UTC MEN’S HOOPS

MOCS REPORT

For the fourth straight game, the Mocs built a halftime lead against an opponent when they held a 15-point edge against Samford. This time, they were able to finish the job, holding off the Bulldogs for a 76-71 win Wednesday night at McKenzie. London had 21 points and 19 rebounds off the bench, while Dixon had 21 points. Foreman finished with 13, while Chatman had 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

KEYDETS REPORT

The Keydets are 1-8 in their past nine games, the lone win an 88-81 defeat of The Citadel on Jan. 20 in Lexington, Va. They’ve put a lot on the plate of Parham, a freshman who is their most explosive playmaker and leading scorer, while Smith ranks fifth in the Southern Conference in assists. The Keydets are one of the youngest teams in the country, with seven freshmen having appeared in a game for VMI this season.

KEY MATCHUP

The Mocs have been playing well as of late, but they hadn’t seen the result they truly wanted until Wednesday’s victory. The next step in their growth will be how they handle being expected to win, because the Keydets are just as young as they are. If the Mocs maintain their recent high level of play, they should be able to overwhelm their visitors today.