Sports
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Chattanooga Fights for NIT Semifinal Win
Chattanooga Mocs Aim for Historic NIT Championship Win at Hinkle Fieldhouse
INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) Mocs are one step away from their first-ever National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship. Their journey continues Tuesday night at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse, where they face Loyola Chicago in the NIT semifinals. The game marks UTC’s third appearance at Hinkle Fieldhouse, a venue steeped in basketball history, famously featured in the movie "Hoosiers."
While the iconic film's setting holds significance, the Mocs players themselves have surprisingly limited familiarity with "Hoosiers." Most players admitted to having minimal exposure to the movie, with only one player, senior forward Garrison Keeslar, recalling watching it on a road trip during his time at Walsh University. Despite this lack of personal connection to the film's lore, the players acknowledge the historical importance of playing at Hinkle Fieldhouse. “We're playing where a movie was made,” senior guard Bash Wieland said, “That's got to be a big deal.”
The Mocs, boasting a 27-9 record, arrive in Indianapolis on a roll. They’ve won three straight NIT games, including a dramatic 67-65 victory over Bradley last week, where Trey Bonham hit a game-winning three-pointer in the closing seconds. Honor Huff led the team in scoring against Bradley with 21 points, while Bonham contributed 17 points and six rebounds. Their regular season concluded on an 11-game winning streak, solidifying their NIT berth after a second-round conference tournament loss to Furman.
Their opponent, Loyola Chicago (25-11), also boasts impressive momentum, having won nine of their last 11 games before their conference tournament exit. Their NIT run includes victories over San Jose State, San Francisco, and Kent State, with sophomore center Miles Rubin leading the charge in their most recent game, scoring 18 points on 8-for-9 shooting. Rubin’s dominance was consistent throughout the regular season, where he led the A-10 conference in 2-point field goal percentage (70.4%). The matchup promises to be a clash of hot teams vying for a championship berth. The winner will advance to Thursday's NIT championship game.
INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) Mocs are one step away from their first-ever National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship. Their journey continues Tuesday night at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse, where they face Loyola Chicago in the NIT semifinals. The game marks UTC’s third appearance at Hinkle Fieldhouse, a venue steeped in basketball history, famously featured in the movie "Hoosiers."
While the iconic film's setting holds significance, the Mocs players themselves have surprisingly limited familiarity with "Hoosiers." Most players admitted to having minimal exposure to the movie, with only one player, senior forward Garrison Keeslar, recalling watching it on a road trip during his time at Walsh University. Despite this lack of personal connection to the film's lore, the players acknowledge the historical importance of playing at Hinkle Fieldhouse. “We're playing where a movie was made,” senior guard Bash Wieland said, “That's got to be a big deal.”
The Mocs, boasting a 27-9 record, arrive in Indianapolis on a roll. They’ve won three straight NIT games, including a dramatic 67-65 victory over Bradley last week, where Trey Bonham hit a game-winning three-pointer in the closing seconds. Honor Huff led the team in scoring against Bradley with 21 points, while Bonham contributed 17 points and six rebounds. Their regular season concluded on an 11-game winning streak, solidifying their NIT berth after a second-round conference tournament loss to Furman.
Their opponent, Loyola Chicago (25-11), also boasts impressive momentum, having won nine of their last 11 games before their conference tournament exit. Their NIT run includes victories over San Jose State, San Francisco, and Kent State, with sophomore center Miles Rubin leading the charge in their most recent game, scoring 18 points on 8-for-9 shooting. Rubin’s dominance was consistent throughout the regular season, where he led the A-10 conference in 2-point field goal percentage (70.4%). The matchup promises to be a clash of hot teams vying for a championship berth. The winner will advance to Thursday's NIT championship game.
