STATS | NOTES | QUOTES
 
NICEVILLE, Fla.---Tre' McLean's career-high 18 points led four in double digits as the Chattanooga Mocs (4-1) rolled to a 95-58 win over Alabama State (1-3) in the opening round of its bracket in the Emerald Coast Classic. The 37-point margin of victory is the largest against a DI opponent in almost 19 years, an 83-46 triumph over Wofford (Jan. 6, 1997).
 
""The thing I was most impressed with our guys is that we played the right way on offense," coach Matt McCall explained. "28 assists, that's special. I don't know if that's some school record or not, but I've got to think it's up there. Twenty-eight assists is an enormous amount of assists in a game.
 
"It just tells me, as a coach, we were playing the right way."
 
The 28 assists is not a school record, but it is the most in a contest since 32 vs. Toccoa Falls on Nov. 20, 2004. It ties the school mark for most assists in a neutral site game, however, also notching 28 against Western Carolina in the 2000 Southern Conference Tournament.
 
It was a 12-point game, 42-30, with 17:09 to play. The Mocs scored 10 unanswered points capped by a thunderous Justin Tuoyo dunk at 14:18 for a 52-30 advantage. The Hornets got no closer than 18 the rest of the way.
 
With the score at 56-38 with just over 11 minutes to go, UTC put it out of reach. It scored on 15 of 16 possessions to see its lead swell to the 37-point final tally of 95-58.
 
McLean also had career highs in assists (6) and steals (3). He was joined in double figures by Tuoyo (12), Casey Jones (11) and Greg Pryor (10). Jones added seven assists, while Tuoyo had four blocks, his fourth straight contest with three or more.
 
Bobby Brown led ASU with 14 points and two blocks. Jamel Waters added 11 with nine in the second frame. Corvon Butler matched the Mocs' Dee Oldham for game-high honors with six rebounds.
 
Chattanooga led from start-to-finish opening the contest on an 11-2 run on McLean's layup at 16:33. Butler's jam at 12:36 cut the margin to seven, 16-9, but that's as close as it would get.
 
Oldham put his squad up 16, 30-14, on a three-pointer as the Mocs methodically built on their advantage. They took a 16-point halftime, 38-22, lead on a Casey Jones three-point play with 17 seconds to go in the half.
 
UTC faces Jacksonville State in the bracket's title tilt is slated to start at 2 p.m., Eastern time Saturday at the Arena at Northwest Florida State College. ASU meets Chicago State in the consolation game at 11: 30 a.m. JSU beat CSU 68-65.
 
Check the men's basketball schedule page on GoMocs.com for links to audio and live stats. Follow @GoMocsMBB for live tweets from the contest.
 
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).
- 2 SoCon Defensive Player of the Year: Z. Mason (2014), Justin Tuoyo (2015).
- 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).