In a shocking turn of events, Tennessee at Chattanooga pulled off a stunning upset at the Ramsey Center, defeating Western Carolina 90-82. This outcome is all the more remarkable considering Western Carolina's higher net ranking, making this an impressive victory for the Mocs. Chattanooga's Jordan Frison led the charge, scoring 19 points and grabbing 6 rebounds to propel his team to a much-needed conference win.
At halftime, Western Carolina seemed poised to take control, leading 42-37. However, Chattanooga came out strong in the second half, outscoring the Catamounts 53-40 to secure the upset. Julien Soumaoro was Western Carolina's top performer, scoring 17 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Mocs' second-half surge. Cord Stansberry and Marcus Kell also made significant contributions for the Catamounts, with 14 and 11 points, respectively, but their efforts were ultimately overshadowed by Chattanooga's balanced attack.
Chattanooga's victory is a significant blow to Western Carolina's tournament hopes, as this loss drops the Catamounts to 7-12 on the season. On the other hand, the Mocs improve to 9-12, and while their record may not be impressive, this win demonstrates their ability to compete against conference foes. Collin Mulholland and Brennan Watkins were also key contributors for Chattanooga, scoring 16 and 10 points, respectively, and grabbing crucial rebounds late.
The lack of a pre-game prediction only adds to the surprise of this outcome, as many would have expected Western Carolina to emerge victorious given their slight edge in net ranking. However, Chattanooga's performance serves as a reminder that conference games can be unpredictable and that any team can win on a given night.
This result has real consequences for both teams' resumes, particularly in terms of quadrants. For Western Carolina, this loss falls into Quadrant 4, which could hurt their chances of securing a postseason berth. Conversely, Chattanooga's win also falls into Quadrant 4, but it's a crucial victory that could help them build momentum in conference play. As the season progresses, the Mocs must continue to pull off upsets like this one to bolster their tournament chances.
The upset victory for Chattanooga is a reflection of their resilience and determination, and it will be interesting to see how they build on this momentum in their upcoming games. For Western Carolina, this loss serves as a wake-up call, and they must regroup and refocus to get their season back on track. Ultimately, this result is a significant one for both teams, with major implications for their tournament prospects.