After coming off an exciting road win against Mercer, the ETSU men’s basketball team faced off against the Chattanooga Mocs in an evening match-up at Freedom Hall Civic Center, but fell in the final second of play by the score of 67-65.
Ten minutes into the first half, the Bucs fell behind 17-5 as they struggled to get out of their own way, turning the ball over on six separate possessions. ETSU also struggled to find open looks early on — shooting less than 35% from the field.
But momentum seemed to tilt in the other direction after the Bucs’ Silas Adheke (Lagos, Nigeria) scored on an ‘and-one’ layup foul, enabling back-to-back three pointers from David Sloan (Louisville, Kentucky) and Damari Monsanto (Pembroke Pines, Florida).
After a slow start, ETSU managed to cut the Mocs’ former 13-point lead to just six by halftime, with Monsanto leading the team with nine points, thanks to a triad of three-point field goals.
The second half started with back-to-back turnovers for ETSU, totaling 10 for the game, but was quickly corrected after an intricate turn-around jumper from Ledarrius Brewer (Meridian, Mississippi).
After several empty handed offensive trips, the Buccaneers, once again, found themselves playing the keep-up game — with eight minutes remaining in regulation, ETSU had only compiled for 37 points, adding just four points since halftime.
Demari Monsanto managed to end the drought with a three pointer, totaling four for the game, while adding another two points thanks to a layup through traffic.
As Chattanooga entered into the bonus, ETSU countered with a pair of huge baskets and an important foul from behind the line, which awarded Monsanto three shots from the foul line. Monsanto knocked down all shots, cutting the Mocs’ lead to six, with a score of 59-53.
Freedom Hall suddenly found a new lease on life with three minutes left in the game.
ETSU’s battle back was complimented by head coach Jason Shay’s aggressive full-court press, which visibly made a difference in the Mocs’ offensive flow. The new pace seemed to benefit the Bucs, as Chattanooga continued to make mistakes at the hands of Shay’s press defense.
With only two minutes left in the game, Damari Monsanto was able to trek down his own missed three point shot and kick it out to David Sloan, who would then bring most of the 600 some attendees to their feet with a made 3 point shot — but the Mocs still led, 62-60.
With 15 seconds left in the game, ETSU came down with a defensive board and hurried up the court. David Sloan made a quick out-pass to Ty Brewer (Meridian, Mississippi) who would hit the three to put the Buccaneers on top by a score of 65-64.
ETSU’s 23-6 run looked promising, as the ball was literally and figuratively in Chattanooga’s court to win the game.
As seconds ticked off the clock, the Bucs’ path to victory looked certain, however, A.J. Caldwell of the Mocs managed to get a stunning, last second three-point shot to give Chattanooga the 67-65 victory.
The air had been sucked out of the stadium, and just like that, ETSU lost to their in-conference rival.
Shay also believed that ETSU looked to be probable victors, before Caldwell’s game-winner.
“I thought we had them dead to rights there, but Caldwell moves well with the ball and he just gets open,” said Shay. “I think we defended it well, but you have to give Caldwell credit, he made a big shot.”
While Shay admits that his team struggled early, he was also very quick to point towards the positives.
“There are always learning lessons,” Shay said. “We came out flat, for whatever reason. I’m not here to make excuses, but we did have some perseverance, some grit and some toughness to us, which allowed us to comeback in the game when it looked grim.”
