CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) -- Gee McGhee scored 24 points and sparked a key second-half run to lift Chattanooga over Elon 72-68 Saturday.

Z. Mason and Drazen Zlovaric added 10 apiece for Chattanooga, which shot 54 percent (13 of 24) in the opening frame en route to a 38-37 halftime lead.

Elon (19-9, 12-4 Southern Conference) opened the second half on a 16-9 run go up 51-46 but Chattanooga clawed back to a 59-56 advantage midway through the frame.

Ryley Beaumont cut it to 59-58 with a layup but the Phoenix would get no closer, as Chattanooga (12-17, 7-9) used a 10-4 run to pull away. McGhee scored seven points during the spurt.

Elon shot 42 percent (23 of 54) but went 1-of-5 shooting over the final 3:33. Chattanooga shot 51 percent (24 of 47) and made 20 free throws. The Phoenix shot just 14 free throws.

Beaumont paced Elon with 20 points.

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