Chattanooga claims NIT title with OT win over UC Irvine

Garrison Keeslar made the go-ahead jumper with 11 seconds left in overtime as Chattanooga won its first NIT championship with an 85-84 victory over UC Irvine on Thursday in Indianapolis.Collin Mullholland scored 19 points for the Mocs (29-9), while Trey Bonham (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Keeslar (14 points, 10 boards) each finished with a double-double.Devin Tillis put up 19 points to pace UC Irvine (32-7), while Bent Leuchten chipped in with 15 points and 11 rebounds. The Anteaters’ Jurian Dixon contributed 16 points but squandered a golden chance to win the game at the buzzer.The Anteaters created a bit of separation early in the second half as they went on a 7-0 run to open a 48-40 lead.The Mocs chipped away down the stretch in regulation, a comeback fueled by Keeslar’s two 3-pointers. They eventually went ahead with 16.3 seconds left when Honor Huff was fouled on a 3-pointer and made all three free throws to put his team on top 76-74.However, UC Irvine’s Myles Che was promptly fouled on the other end and made 2 of 3, leaving the score tied. Chattanooga had multiple chances to win it in the waning seconds of regulation, including Mullholland’s 3-point attempt that rimmed off at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime.

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