ANAHEIM, Calif.---The Chattanooga Mocs (1-2) dropped its first round game in the inaugural Anaheim Classic to No. 18 Southern Illinois (2-0) 63-41. The 41 points is the lowest offensive output for a Mocs team since Dec. 5, 1997 in Charlotte, N.C., as UTC fell 68-38 to No. 3 North Carolina.
It was tough going early on for Chattanooga as the Salukis jumped out to an 8-0 over the first four-plus minutes of the game. The Mocs battled back going on an 11-0 run over the next 4:18 led by junior Stephen McDowell (Indianapolis, Ind.) who scored five points with a three-pointer to start the scoring.
From there, both teams battled back and forth with the Mocs holding a 16-15 lead with 5:49 to go. SIU went on a 12-3 run to close out the first half with a 27-19 lead. The Salukis out-scored UTC 22-9 over the first 7:21 of the second half to put the game away.
McDowell was the lone double-digit scorer with 13 points, hitting three treys and adding five rebounds. SIU senior Randal Falker led all scorers with 21 points.
The Mocs were limited to 29.7 percent shooting from the field on 11-of-37 shooting and were doomed by 26 turnovers. UTC will face Cal-Irvine in the second round tomorrow, Nov. 23, at 5:30 p.m. (EST). The game will be televised on ESPNU.
