CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Interstat) — The Chattanooga Mocs used a balanced offensive attack and a strong second-half push to pull away from the North Alabama Lions for a 71-57 victory in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at McKenzie Arena.

A crowd of 3,455 watched as the Mocs evened their season record at 3-3, while the Lions fell to 2-4.

North Alabama started the game with energy, building an early lead. Dallas Howell connected on a 3-pointer just 51 seconds into the contest, and a driving layup by Kevin de Kovachich gave the Lions a 7-0 advantage, forcing an early Chattanooga timeout.

The Mocs struggled to find their footing offensively, not scoring their first points until a Makai Richards layup more than four minutes into the game. Chattanooga eventually settled in, chipping away at the deficit and taking its first lead at 21-20 on a Jikari Johnson 3-pointer with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half.

The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the period, with Chattanooga taking a 33-26 lead into the halftime break. The Mocs closed the half on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a Jordan Frison layup just before the buzzer.

Chattanooga carried that momentum into the second half, opening with a 9-3 run to extend its lead to 13 points. Billy Smith was instrumental in the surge, hitting a 3-pointer and assisting on another basket. North Alabama could never cut the deficit to single digits again, as the Mocs consistently answered every Lions push.

Smith led the Mocs with 18 points, showcasing his scoring ability from the perimeter. Sebastian Hartmann provided a key contribution with 11 points, and Tate Darner added 10 points off the bench, including a crucial 3-pointer in the first half that helped swing the momentum. Frison directed the offense effectively, dishing out a game-high five assists.

For North Alabama, de Kovachich was the primary offensive threat, finishing with a game-high 18 points. The guard from Montreal, Canada, was aggressive in getting to the basket and the free-throw line. Donte Bacchus added nine points and a blocked shot for the Lions, who struggled to find consistent scoring outside of de Kovachich.

Chattanooga’s defense was a key factor, forcing 15 North Alabama turnovers and converting them into points. The Mocs also shared the ball effectively, finishing with 15 assists on their 25 made field goals.

The game was a departure from recent outings for both teams. North Alabama was coming off a 61-81 loss at Clemson, while Chattanooga had earned a 78-66 road win at South Carolina State in its previous contest.

Looking ahead, North Alabama returns home to face Tennessee Wesleyan on Tuesday. Chattanooga will also host Tennessee Wesleyan in its next game on Friday.