2015-16 Chattanooga Mocs Basketball
Post-Game Notes – Samford
Feb. 27, 2016 – Chattanooga, Tenn.
 
TEAM
- Chattanooga beat Samford 77-66 today in McKenzie Arena…record improves to 25-5 on the season (13-1 at home), 14-23 in the Southern Conference…the Bulldogs fall to 13-18, 4-14 in the league.
 
- The Mocs clinch at least a share of their 11th Southern Conference Regular Season Championship…its first since 1994, the last opportunity for such a crown until 2013-14 after the league switched to Divisions until 2013-14…finished second the last two years.
 
- The win also cements the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Southern Conference Championships in Asheville, N.C., March 4-7…they face the winner of Samford-VMI at Noon on Saturday, March 5.
 
- We are the No. 1 seed, (2) ETSU, (3) Furman, (4) Wofford, (5) Western Carolina, (6/7) UNCG/Mercer, (8) Samford, (9) VMI and (10) The Citadel…clinched spots bolded…UNCG needs to beat Mercer tomorrow at home to clinch top 6 spot and a first round bye at the tournament.
 
- Tonight's crowd was 5,564 … second-largest of the season and third over 5,000 this year … Mocs led the SoCon in home attendance for the second year in a row, averaging 3,530 fans per game. 
 
- The Mocs are 41-10 (.804) in league play since the start of 2013-14…23-3 (.885) at home.
 
- 25th win extends the school record wins in the REGULAR SEASON…now two shy of the overall mark of 27 set by the 1977 NCAA DII Champions (27-5) and 1982 SoCon titlists (27-4).
 
- Last 10 Games: 8-2…Last 20: 17-3.
 
- Lead the series 55-36…swept regular season meetings (63-56 at Samford)…won the last four and eight of past nine…28-12 in Chattanooga…12-4 in SoCon regular season games.
 
- 401-223 in regular season SoCon games…244-68 at home.
 
- No. 15 in this week's CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25.
 
- Mocs shot a season-high 85.2% from the FT line (23-27) … 17-18 in the second half.
 
- Mocs forced Samford into 16 turnovers and capitalized with 24 points … compared to giving up just six points on 10 of their own miscues. 
 
- UTC lead 40-35 at the break, improving to 21-0 when leading at the half.
 
- The Mocs won the battle on the boards (32-30) to improve to 18-0 when outrebounding their opponent. 
 
INDIVIDUAL
Chuck Ester – Jr.-F
- 12 points in 22 minutes.
- Shot 4-9 from the field, 4-5 from the FT line.
- Added three boards and two assists.
 
Tre' McLean – Jr.-G
- 10 points on 3-7 shooting, 1-1 from 3-pt. range and 3-3 from the FT line.
- Tied a career-high with a game-high four steals.
- Tied for game-high with six boards.
- Added three assists and a block.
 
Dee Oldham – Sr.-G
- 11 points in 29 minutes off the bench.
- 3-7 from the field, 1-3 form 3-pt. range and 4-4 from the FT line.
- Team-high four assists.
- Added five boards and a steal.
 
Eric Robertson – Sr.-G
- 15 points on 5-11 shooting, 4-10 from 3-pt. range and 1-1 from the FT line.
- Four threes in the first half.
- Added Three assists.
 
Justin Tuoyo – Jr.-F
- 10 points on 3-6 shooting, 3-3 from the FT line.
- Five boards and five blocks.
 
Head Coach Matt McCall
- 25-5 to open his collegiate coaching career…best start by a UTC ball coach…next best over first 30 games? Mack McCarthy (1985-86) and Jeff Lebo (2002-03) both began 21-9.
- 13-1 at home.