CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The UNC Asheville men’s basketball team traveled to Chattanooga for its first road game of the 2020-21 season on Wednesday, being edged out 69-66 in the final seconds of play at McKenzie Arena.

Leading 66-65 with 13 seconds to play, Chattanooga stole the inbounds pass and converted a layup to give the Mocs a one-point advantage, sealing the deal at the free throw line just seconds later.

Asheville’s record now goes to 3-3 on the season, while Chattanooga stays perfect (7-0).

The Bulldogs shot 46.8 percent from the floor and outrebounded Chattanooga 37-33 scoring 42 points in the paint, but struggled at the free throw line, going just 2-for-7. LJ Thorpe was the leading scorer for Asheville, with Tajion Jones, Trent Stephney and Jamon Battle all reaching double figures in the loss. The Mocs, meanwhile, were bolstered by the presence of KC Hankton, who became eligible to play on Wednesday after the NCAA’s waiver ruling. Hankton totaled 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting, while Chattanooga was 45.5 percent from the floor and 47.4 percent from 3-point range.

Stephney had it working early, putting the Bulldogs up 5-0 and later extending the lead to seven after a mid-range made the score 13-6. Malachi Smith and Stefan Kenic brought the Mocs back, but a pair of 3-pointers from Jones kept Asheville in front 24-17.

Chattanooga gained its first lead of the game with less than three minutes to play in the first after Hankton connected twice from downtown (31-28). LJ Thorpe ended the drought for Asheville, but Jamaal Walker closed the half with a trey to give the Mocs a seven-point after 20 minutes of play.

The Bulldogs showed their resiliency out of the break, led by Battle who scored eight points including a transition dunk that put Asheville ahead by three (49-46). Minutes later, Stephney fed Evan Clayborne to cap off an 11-2 run to open the second.

Every time Asheville looked to put distance between the two sides, Chattanooga answered, with Hankton tying the score at 62-62 at the 2:46 mark. Clayborne scored a tough bucket in the paint, and a floater from Stephney put Asheville in front 66-63, but the Bulldogs could not extend their lead, setting the Mocs up for a pair of free throws. On the ensuing inbounds, A.J. Caldwell stole the pass and laid the ball in, as Asheville threw the ball away one more time, letting Smith sink the clinching free throws.

WHAT’S NEXT

Asheville has another road contest on deck, traveling to Marshall on December 22 for a 6 p.m. tip against the Thundering Herd.

TODAY’s TAKEAWAYS

• Four Bulldogs scored double-figures, with LJ Thorpe totaling a team-high 14
• Asheville was strong on the boards, winning the rebounding battle 37-33, swatting four shots in the process
• The 42 points in the paint is the second-highest total for the Bulldogs this season