Mocs Basketball Rolls to 31 Point Victory Over Cumberland

(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA—The Chattanooga Mocs used an historic-type performance from grad transfer Thomas Smallwood to run away with a 92-61 triumph over Cumberland. Smallwood had his first collegiate double-double with 18 points and 18 rebounds, tying for fourth-most in McKenzie Arena history.

The Phoenix hung around with the Mocs for the better part of 32 minutes. Kareem Wright’s free throw with 8:12 remaining cut the home team’s advantage to 10, 61-51.

Chattanooga bolted with a quick 9-0 spurt to get the lead to 19, 70-51, on two Smallwood free throws at 6:15. The run extended to 22-4 over four-plus minutes after a Donovann Toatley free throw made it 83-55 for the good guys.

Keigan Kerby’s 3pt with 1:59 left made it a 31-point affair, 88-57. It reached its largest margin of 33 twice. Once on a Justin Brown layup and later on two Toatley free throws. Brandon Levier closed the scoring with a layup at the buzzer for the final 31-point spread, 92-61.

Kevin Easley tied Smallwood for game-high scoring honors with 18 points. Toatley added 12 as both freshmen contributed four assists. Ty Sean Powell led three Phoenix in double figures with 15.

RECORDS

Chattanooga 2-1 | Cumberland: 5-0 (exhibition game for CU)

 SERIES

Chattanooga leads the all-time series 7-1…5-0 in Chattanooga, 3-0 in McKenzie Arena.

3 NOTES TO KNOW

Check out the full complement of notes at the link above.

• Season-high 92 points…highest point total since 101 in overtime at The Citadel on Jan. 13, 2018…most in regulation since 95 last November against Tennessee Wesleyan.
• Most rebounds (50) since garnering 55 in last January’s home win over Samford…grabbed 37 of the Phoenix 41 misses for a 90.2 defensive rebound percentage…entered the game second in the Southern Conference with a 79.4 percent rate…that’s increased to 83.5 percent.
• 18 rebounds for Thomas Smallwood ties for the fourth-most in the program’s DI era (starting 1977-78)…also fourth most at McKenzie Arena behind Mindaugas Katelynas (21), Vincent Robinson (20) and Makinde London (19)…third-highest in regulation.

3 STATS TO KNOW

Check out the full stats at the link above.

• Kevin Easley tied Thomas Smallwood for game-high honors tonight with 18 points. Third straight double-figure game for Easley and second in a row with the high point total for the Mocs. He leads the team with a 17.7 point-per-game average.
• All nine student-athletes who saw action scored six or more points playing at least 15 minutes.
• 42-18 advantage on points in the paint.

QUOTABLE

Check out all of what we heard at the quotes link above.

“It was an inspired performance. He was really active and just involved in a lot of the rebounds in which he corralled. I thought he looked really fresh and very active on both sides of the court, especially grabbing rebounds. That’ll build his confidence in his ability to do that.” – Coach Lamont Paris on Thomas Smallwood’s performance.

“I’m extremely happy to coach these guys…I told them that on multiple occasions. I like them, I like what they’re about. They don’t always like what I say to them, but that’s part of the growing process of being coached and all that. I like who they are as people, like who they are as citizens, I like who they are as members of this community, and I’m proud of what they do. I enjoy coaching them.” – Coach Paris on the start to the season.

“It’s the best, by far. I haven’t played a lot in college so I think as far as getting a double-double, that’s something I want to do moving forward. That’s by far the best point-rebound performance of my career … so far.” – Thomas Smallwood.