CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive efficiency and a standout individual performance, the Chattanooga Mocs held off a persistent Virginia Military Institute Keydets squad for an 86-79 victory in a Southern Conference men’s basketball matchup Saturday afternoon at McKenzie Arena.

A crowd of 3,824 watched as Chattanooga guard Jordan Frison delivered a masterclass, scoring 33 points to lead all players and propel the Mocs to their 13th win of the season against 18 losses. The Keydets, despite a valiant effort and a significant second-half push, fell to 6-25.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the final minutes as VMI threatened to erase a deficit that had lingered near double digits for much of the second half. Trailing 80-77 with under three minutes to play, the Keydets had multiple opportunities to draw closer or tie. However, Chattanooga’s defense tightened, forcing a missed VMI three-pointer, and on the ensuing possession, Frison delivered the dagger—a step-back three-pointer with 3:00 remaining that pushed the Mocs’ lead to six points and effectively stifled the visitors’ momentum.

Frison, a guard from Memphis, Tennessee, was the engine for Chattanooga throughout. His 33 points came on an array of pull-up jumpers, drives, and clutch outside shots, continuing a torrid scoring stretch in recent games. He was supported by Billy Smith, who added 15 points, and Collin Mulholland, who chipped in 13 points and provided a strong interior presence.

Virginia Military Institute was led by a balanced offensive attack. Cal Liston, a guard from Marietta, Georgia, scored 21 points, while forward TJ Johnson of Belton, Texas, also tallied 21 points and recorded a block. Linus Holmstrom of Stockholm, Sweden, contributed 12 points, and Kaden Stuckey of Mono, Canada, added 13 points and several key rebounds. Tan Yildizoglu of Istanbul, Turkey, facilitated the offense with a game-high six assists.

The contest was a study in contrasting offensive execution. Chattanooga operated with remarkable precision, scoring 86 points on just 64 possessions for an offensive rating of 134.8. The Mocs shot 50% from the field, connecting on 34 of 68 attempts, and were an efficient 12 of 31 from three-point range. They also committed a mere two turnovers for the entire game.

VMI countered with a strong offensive showing of its own, posting an offensive rating of 121.6 by scoring 79 points on 65 possessions. The Keydets relied heavily on the three-ball, attempting 38 and making 13, but shot just 41.9% overall from the floor. A telling statistic was the team’s mere two assists, highlighting an offense built more on individual creation than ball movement.

Chattanooga established control in the first half, leveraging a 12-3 run midway through the period to build a lead it would not relinquish. The Mocs took a 42-33 advantage into halftime, with Frison scoring 16 before the break. VMI, demonstrating the resilience that has characterized its season despite the record, came out aggressively in the second half. A quick 8-2 spurt, capped by a three-pointer from Johnson, cut the deficit to three points early in the period.

Every time the Keydets drew close, however, Chattanooga had an answer, often from Frison or Smith. VMI closed to within a single possession on several occasions in the latter stages, but could never secure the stop and score needed to draw even, culminating in Frison’s decisive three-pointer that sealed the outcome.

The result aligned with pregame expectations, as Chattanooga was installed as an 11.5-point favorite and statistical models gave the Mocs a 94.1% probability of victory. The combined score of 165 points sailed over the posted over/under line of 152.5.

The victory gives Chattanooga a regular-season split with VMI, avenging a 79-71 loss in Lexington on Jan. 3. Both teams now look ahead to the Southern Conference tournament, where the Mocs will seek to build on late-season momentum and the Keydets will aim to translate their competitive performances into a postseason run.