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SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Jan. 14, 2026) — Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium was electric Wednesday night, a place where the energy of the home crowd could have carried the Terriers to a signature win. For much of the first half and early in the second, it looked like that might happen. Wofford controlled the pace, moved the ball crisply, and got downhill repeatedly through senior forward Kahmare Holmes. But with just under 10 minutes left, Chattanooga ignited a late run that flipped the game. The Mocs’ timely threes and defensive stops erased a double-digit deficit, leaving Wofford with a 76–67 Southern Conference defeat — a game that felt winnable until the final surge.
The Terriers had done everything to stay in the driver’s seat. Holmes attacked off the catch, Cayden Vasko orchestrated the offense with patience and vision, and Nils Machowski spaced the floor with smart mid-range shooting. They led, moved the ball efficiently, and created open looks. But the Mocs, trailing by as many as 10 points in the second half, were patient. Jordan Frison penetrated, Tate Darner controlled the paint, and Chattanooga hit a series of clutch three-pointers that the Terriers could not match. In the end, Wofford’s effort was strong — but it wasn’t enough.
Frison and Darner Ignite the Mocs’ Comeback
Chattanooga’s late rally was a lesson in timing, poise, and shooting precision. Guard Jordan Frison, the Mocs’ floor general, scored 19 points and dished five assists, often finding cutters at critical moments and forcing Wofford to rotate defensively. Frison’s ability to read the defense, penetrate, and convert mid-range jumpers kept the Terriers from settling into their rhythm. Every time Wofford tried to push the lead back, Frison responded with another decisive bucket.
Tate Darner was equally important. The forward finished with 16 points and six rebounds, using his body to create space inside and finishing possessions with efficiency at the rim and from the free-throw line. Darner’s presence on the boards allowed Chattanooga to sustain their late surge, grabbing second-chance points that gradually cut into Wofford’s cushion. Billy Smith also contributed 13 points, hitting critical perimeter shots that maintained pressure on the Terriers during the middle portions of the second half. Together, Frison, Darner, and Smith orchestrated a finish that Wofford’s defense could not fully contain.
Terriers Respond with Effort, Led by Holmes
For Wofford, the story was grit, effort, and flashes of brilliance. Kahmare Holmes led the team with 22 points and seven rebounds, frequently attacking the rim to create scoring opportunities and open passing lanes. His ability to generate offense for himself and others was on full display, keeping the Terriers competitive even as the Mocs mounted their comeback. Holmes had multiple possessions late where he drew fouls and made contested shots, providing the backbone for Wofford’s hopes.
Cayden Vasko added 15 points and six assists, running the offense with control and keeping possessions alive through tough defensive pressure. Nils Machowski chipped in 14 points and six rebounds, spacing the floor effectively and hitting mid-range jumpers that kept Chattanooga honest. Together, Holmes, Vasko, and Machowski formed the core of Wofford’s push, but even with strong individual efforts, the team could not overcome Chattanooga’s momentum late. It was a night where execution in the final possessions became the difference.
First Half: Tight Exchanges Set the Stage
The opening half unfolded like a textbook Southern Conference matchup — deliberate, physical, and full of momentum swings. Wofford’s ball movement created open shots early, with Holmes consistently finding seams to attack the basket. The Terriers’ offense flowed through Vasko’s careful orchestration, allowing Machowski and others to exploit space for clean looks. Chattanooga countered with an interior game led by Darner and efficient pick-and-rolls that tested Wofford’s rotations. The teams exchanged runs, with neither side able to establish a meaningful lead. The half ended tied at 30–30, leaving the stage set for a high-pressure second half where execution would be decisive. Every rebound, rotation, and possession would carry extra weight in determining the outcome.
Second Half: Chattanooga’s Late Surge
The second half started with Wofford holding a slight advantage, using disciplined offense and tough interior play to maintain a lead. Holmes continued to attack, Vasko managed possessions efficiently, and Machowski’s mid-range shooting kept the floor spaced. The Terriers appeared positioned to extend control deep into the half.
Then, with just under 10 minutes remaining, Chattanooga began their surge. Trailing by 10 points, Frison penetrated the lane, Darner dominated inside, and a flurry of six consecutive three-pointers shifted the game’s trajectory. Each Wofford response — a layup by Holmes or a mid-range jumper by Machowski — was met with another clutch Mocs basket. Chattanooga’s late scoring run was compounded by key defensive rebounds and turnovers on Wofford’s part, allowing the Mocs to seize momentum. By the final minutes, Wofford was chasing a lead it could not recover, despite a determined team effort.
Key Stats and Game Flow
Chattanooga finished with 76 points, hitting six critical three-pointers in the final 10 minutes that proved decisive. Frison led all scorers with 19 points and five assists, Darner contributed 16 points and six rebounds, and Billy Smith added 13 points. For Wofford, Holmes led the team with 22 points and seven rebounds, Vasko had 15 points and six assists, and Machowski added 14 points and six boards. Wofford’s shooting from beyond the arc hovered in the low 30s, while Chattanooga’s late barrage from deep swung the game firmly in the visitors’ favor. The Terriers’ ball movement, mid-range efficiency, and offensive balance kept them competitive, but Chattanooga’s late execution and second-chance opportunities proved insurmountable.
What It Means for Wofford
This game will sting because it was winnable, but it also underscores lessons for the Terriers moving forward. Execution in crunch time, defensive rotations, and rebounding under pressure remain critical. Holmes, Vasko, and Machowski continue to anchor this roster, and when they are in rhythm, Wofford can challenge anyone in the SoCon. Even in defeat, the effort was there — and with adjustments, this Terriers team is capable of bouncing back in style as conference play continues. Nights like this are reminders of what works, what needs fixing, and why every possession in the Southern Conference counts.
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