Chattanooga Basketball Postgame Notes
(1) Chattanooga vs. Western Carolina (5)
Southern Conference Tournament Semifinals
U.S. Cellular Center – Asheville, N.C.
Sunday – March 6, 2016

TEAM
- Top-seeded Chattanooga Mocs advanced to the finals of the Southern Conference Tournament with a 73-69 win over fifth seed Western Carolina at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, N.C. tonight.

- Mocs improved to 28-5 overall while the Catamounts finished 16-17. 

- UTC set a school record with its 28^th win of the year.

- Mocs are 18-5 in the semifinals … 10-7 in the finals … last tournament win was 2009 in Chattanooga.     

- UTC split the regular season meeting with WCU, winning 77-58 at home on Jan. 14 and WCU winning 67-61 in Cullowhee, N.C. on Feb. 11.

- Mocs opened game on 14-3 run … WCU only had one FG in the first 7:20 of the game … Catamounts outscored UTC 33-22 the rest of the half for a 36-36 tie at the break … only second time this season the Mocs were tied at halftime ... Mocs are 24-0 when tied or leading at the break. 

- Started the second half 6-9 from the field and 3-3 from behind the arc to take a 55-42 lead at 13:00 on a Duke Ethridge slam … WCU cut it to two with five seconds left, but Eric Robertson sank two FTs to score the win.

- WCU outrebounded UTC 39-27 … worst deficit on the boards this season … UTC is 8-4 when being outrebounded. 

- Mocs had 13 steals and forced 20 turnovers … 6^th time this season with 10+ steals … fourth time this year forcing 20+ turnovers … 23-18 advantage in points off turnovers.

- 8-16 (50%) from 3-pt. range … fifth time this season shooting over 50% from behind the arc.  

INDIVIDUAL
Chuck Ester – Jr.-F
- Tied a career-high with 13 points.
- Shot 5-8 from the field, 2-2 from 3-pt. range and 1-2 from the FT line.
- Added two boards, a block and a steal.
- Opened the second half with a slam, steal and three to give UTC a 41-36 lead.

Tre' McLean – Jr.-G
- 12 points on 5-10 shooting, 2-4 from 3-pt. range.

Dee Oldham – Sr.-G
- Six points, five boards and six steals in 26 minutes off the bench.
- Six steals are a career-high and most by a Moc against a DI team this season.

Greg Pryor – Jr.-G
- Team-high 16 points.
- Second-straight game in double-figures.
- Shot 6-10 from the floor, 2-6 from 3-pt. range and 2-4 from the FT line.
- Game-high five assists.
- Three steals.

Eric Robertson – Sr.-G
- 12 points on 4-6 shooting, 1-2 from behind the arc and 3-4 from the line.
- Made two FTs with 3.8 seconds left to seal the win.