Chattanooga Basketball
Postgame Notes
Chattanooga 76, Long Island 59
McKenzie Arena - Chattanooga, Tenn.
Dec. 29, 2009
Team
- Chattanooga is 7-6 on the season, 0-1 in the Southern Conference after a 76-59 win over Long Island in the opening round of the 20th Annual Dr Pepper Classic Tuesday night at the McKenzie Arena. The Blackbirds are 4-7.
- The Mocs now lead the series 2-0. The only previous meeting was a 92-90 win for the Mocs also on Dec.29, just in 1973, in Erie, Pa,
- UTC is 617-363 as a DI program (33rd season), 389-93 at home, 329-82 in the McKenzie Arena.
- Head Coach John Shulman is 97-78 in his sixth year, 65-21 at home, 1-0 against LIU. He is 8-3 in the Dr Pepper Classic, 6-0 in the opening round.
- Entering tonight's game, the Mocs shoot 49.2 percent from the field in wins and 36.6 percent in losses. Tonight they shot 48.3 percent. LIU shot 39.7 percent for the game, 32.3 percent (10-31) in the second half.
- Chattanooga is 32-7 all-time in the Dr Pepper Classic, 19-1 in the opening round.
- The Mocs led 38-33 at the half and are now 5-0 when leading at the break.
- UTC had 25 assists and just nine turnovers on the night. Both are season best marks. The nine turnovers are the fewest since the Mocs had nine in the SoCon semifinals win over Samford on March 8, 2009. The 25 assists is one better than the 24 UTC recorded in the win over Mississippi Valley State earlier this month (12/12/09).
- The Mocs guards and wings had 22 of the assists and just three of the turnovers. Chattanooga had 21 points off 17 Blackbirds miscues, while LIU managed just seven points off turnovers on the night.
- It was an interesting contrast in the post as the Mocs outscored LIU 36-24 in the paint. But the Blackbirds out-rebounded Chattanooga 44-34 on the night including 19 offensive boards. LIU recorded just 12 second chance points on those boards.
- Chattanooga meets Eastern Kentucky in the title game tomorrow night at 8 p.m. LIU will face Morgan State at 6 p.m., in the consolation tilt.
- EKU beat Morgan State 76-62 in the opening game. Justin Stommes led the Colonels with 20 points and eight rebounds, while the Bears' Reggie Holmes scored a game-high 25 points to go with four rebounds and three steals. Holmes made six three-pointers on the night in 19 attempts. EKU took just 45 shots but
- The Mocs played without the services of three scholarship players (Troy Cage, Dante Harvey and Ridge McKeither). McKeither missed the game due to a death in the family. Cage is possibly out for the year after surgery to repair stress fractures in his leg. Harvey is out until mid-to-late January with a wrist injury suffered at Jacksonville State (12/1). UTC has lost 38 man-game missed on the season through eight games. LIU did not have leading scorer Jaytornah Wisseh due to a violation of team rules.
Individual
Sophomore Ricky Taylor
- Led all scorers with 21 points on the night on 8-14 FG, 4-7 3pt and 1-1 FT.
- It was Taylor's third 20-point game of the season and his career.
- It was his fourth game with four three-pointers made, his career high.
- Also recorded four assists without a turnover.
Senior Ty Patterson
- Career high nine assists without a turnover.
- Also had five rebounds and eight points.
Junior Jeremy Saffore
- 12 points on 6-8 FG.
- Also had two blocks, which ties his career high.
Sophomore Chris Early
- Came off the bench to post nine points and eight rebounds in 14 minutes of play.
- Hit 4-9 from the field and the nine points and eight boards are both season highs.
- Has 16 points and 13 rebounds in his last 22 minutes of game action.
- Also had a career high two steals to go with tying his high with his fourth career blocked shot.
