GAME NOTES | MEDIA CENTER | HIWASSEE
 
CHATTANOOGA---Fresh off a weekend split at Tennessee and No. 6 North Carolina, the Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball team returns to the Scenic City for the home opener against Hiwassee. The game tips off at 7 p.m., in McKenzie Arena.
 
This is the third straight campaign the Mocs welcome the Tigers as the first regular season opponent to enter the Roundhouse. While UTC comes into the game at 1-1, Hiwassee is 4-2.
 
Senior Greg Pryor, who scored a team-best 17 points Sunday against the Tar Heels, leads the way with a 15.5 point-per-game average. He's shooting 52.4 percent (11-21) from the field including 50.0 percent (6-12) from 3pt range.
 
Justin Tuoyo adds a double-double with averages for 15.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest. Tre' McLean adds 10.5 points, 7.0 boards and 2.5 steals per game.
 
Coach Matt McCall said there are two things he's looking for going into this week's three contests.
 
"We've struggled rebounding the ball," he shared. "I think we did an unbelievable job in the first half against Tennessee controlling the backboard. They ended up out-rebounding us in the game and obviously, Carolina with their size up front, they pounded us on the backboard. We need to make a step forward there.
 
"We need to take better care of the basketball. Twenty-six turnovers [at North Carolina]…we were up three with less than eight minutes to go in the first half. Then they turned up their heat, but we had some bad, bad turnovers. We had 17 just bad turnovers that we created ourselves. We need to get better there.
 
"We need to take some strides this weekend to get better as a program."
 
Hiwassee, a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), is 4-2 with wins at Barber Scotia (85-68), Action Sports (85-63), College of Faith (98-38) and Bryan (81-78). The two losses are at Kentucky Christian (87-75) and at Tennessee Wesleyan (103-88) along with dropping an exhibition game Sunday at Western Carolina (87-47).
 
The game airs online on the SoCon Digital Network and over the airwaves at 96.1 the Legend in Chattanooga. Links to live stats, video and audio (Mocs Sports Network) are on GoMocs.com's men's basketball schedule page. Click the link above for game notes for both programs when available.
 
After Wednesday's game, the Mocs head to West Point, N.Y., for the regional bracket of the Maui Invitational. They take on Central Arkansas Saturday at 8:30 p.m., with a date Sunday with either Arkansas State or Army West Point.
 
Season and single-game tickets are available on GoMocs.com or by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627).
 
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 30 titles with 11 regular season, 11 tournament and eight division.
- 16 NCAA Tournament Appearances (11 DI): 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, 2016
- 11 SoCon Tournament Crowns: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2009, 2016
- 11 SoCon Regular Season Championships: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2016
- 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).
- 3 SoCon Defensive Players of the Year: Z. Mason (2014), Justin Tuoyo (2015, 2016).
- 4 SoCon Coaches of the Year: Murray Arnold (1982, '83), Mack McCarthy (1986, '92, '93), Will Wade (2014) and Matt McCall (2016).
- 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).