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Middle Tennessee Holds Off Mocs 68-58

Middle Tennessee Holds Off Mocs 68-58

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(Photo Credit: Steve Gotter/GoMocs.com) Greg Pryor shared game-high honors with 16 points while recording his fourth straight game with two or more steals

NOTES | QUOTES | STATS | MEDIA GUIDE | TICKETS

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.---The Chattanooga Mocs dropped a 68-58 decision on the road to a hot-shooting Middle Tennessee squad in Murphy Center Friday night. The loss evens Chattanooga's record to 6-6, while the Blue Raiders improve to 6-5.

Greg Pryor tied for game-high honors with 16 points to go with three assists and two steals. Casey Jones added 10 with two blocks and two steals. Giddy Potts led Middle with 16 of his own off the bench with a game-high seven rebounds.

The Blue Raiders built a 16-point lead, 59-43, on two Potts free throws with 6:55 to play. Eric Robertson and Justin Tuoyo took over from there. Robertson nailed a trey from the right wing before a turnover on the Blue Raiders. Tuoyo followed with a strong three-point play on the following possession.

Jaqawn Raymond drove to the basket only to be denied by Chuck Ester. Jones started the break, Robertson finished with another three in front of the Mocs bench. That 9-0 spurt closed the lead to seven, 59-52 with 5:23 to go.

Jones then made a steal in the front court. He dished to Ronrico White who scored, but was called for a charge. No matter, Pryor got a steal for the fourth straight stop. He took it to the basket to slice the margin to five, 59-54.

The Blue Raiders held strong. Jazquez Rozier and Raymond scored on back-to-back possessions to extend the lead back to nine. It would get no closer than seven from there.

Middle entered the game shooting 39.5 percent from the floor. It made 23 of 47 for a 48.9 percent clip in the win including 58.3 percent (7-12) from three-point range. The Mocs shot 42.4 percent (25-59) while getting beat 34-26 on the boards.

The Blue Raiders got off to a quick start before the visitors got a lift from their bench. Robertson and Duke Ethridge flipped a six-point deficit into a one-point lead with book-end threes around an Ethridge layup. Down 14-13, Middle Tennessee went on a 16-4 run to go up by 11, 29-18, on a Potts three with 1:52 until the half.

The Mocs called timeout just inside a minute to go. Pryor directed a great possession feeding Ethridge for a layup to trail 29-20 at the half.

Chattanooga returns home for an 8 p.m., tipoff Monday against Conference USA member UAB. The game is televised on ASN. Gameday links to video, audio (Mocs Sports Network), live stats and where to find ASN are available on GoMocs.com. Follow @GoMocsMBB on Twitter for live updates.

GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs.  The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page or on Twitter.  Find out how to join the UTC Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here.

ABOUT CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
- The Mocs are by far the most successful program in the Southern Conference since joining the league in 1977-78. The team has won 28 titles with 10 regular season, 10 tournament and eight division.

- 15 NCAA Tournament Appearances: 1961 (DII), 1973 (DII), 1975 (DII), 1976 (DII Runner-up), 1977 (DII National Champs), 1981, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 (Sweet 16), 2005, 2009
- 10 SoCon Tournament Crowns: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2009
- 10 SoCon Regular Season Championships: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
- 8 Division Titles: 1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011
- The 1997 team went to the NCAA Sweet 16 with wins over Georgia and Illinois.
- 5 SoCon Players of the Year: Willie White (1981-82), Keith Nelson (1991-92), Tim Brooks (1992-93), Chad Copeland (1993-94) and Johnny Taylor (1996-97).
- 1 SoCon Defensive Player of the Year: Z. Mason (2014).
- 3 SoCon Coaches of the Year: Murray Arnold (1982, '83), Mack McCarthy (1986, '92, '93) and Will Wade (2014).
- 9 NBA Draft Picks: Walter “Moose” McGary (1973 & '74), William Gordon (1977), Wayne Golden (1977), Russ Schoene (1982), Nick Morken (1982), Willie White (1984), Gerald Wilkins (1985, 13 seasons) and Johnny Taylor (1997 1st Round).
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