STATS | NOTES | QUOTES
 
WEST POINT---The Chattanooga Mocs (3-1) needed a team effort to topple Central Arkansas (0-3) tonight. They got it in a 75-64 win in the mainland bracket of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational in Christl Arena at Army West Point.
 
Johnathan Burroughs-Cook had a game-high 18 points to go with a career-high five assists while tying career bests for rebounds and steals with four apiece. Justin Tuoyo added 16 points, six rebounds, six blocks and two steals.
 
"It was a whole team effort," Tuoyo said. "We had starters go down with foul trouble, and Nat, Massenburg and Makale did a real good job giving us the spark we needed in the first half. They really lifted the whole team and carried us through the whole game."
 
The Mocs never trailed, but it was a close game early. Tied at 16-all, a Tuoyo dunk ignited a 9-0 run for a 25-16 advantage with 6:44 left in the first half. An 11-0 spurt started just two minutes later to increase the lead to 18, 39-21. Jordan Howard's lone triple of the game sent the Mocs into the break ahead by 15, 39-24.
 
That lead extended to 21, 54-33, with 8:57 to go in the contest on a Burroughs-Cook layup. The Bears tried to make a game of it late, but the Mocs had all the answers.
 
"I thought it was a great win against a really good team," Coach Matt McCall explained. "Those guys went wire-to-wire with Oklahoma State. They have one of the best scorers in the country in Jordan Howard. I felt like we did a really, really good job on him."
 
One of the keys was the defensive effort on Howard. He scored 16 points, three under his early-season average, but the long-range gunner managed just 1-7 from 3pt range. Burroughs-Cook opened the game as the primary defender on Howard, but he was quick to point out just how intensive the team's focus was.
 
"We knew coming into the game what kind of scorer he is," the senior from Memphis shared. "We had to lock in and focus on him. Wherever he was at on the court, we had to find him.
 
"That went for everybody. I started on him, but we all had to be aware and ready for him at all times."
 
Foul trouble plagued the Mocs with two starters – Tre' McLean and Makinde London – and a key reserve (Nat Dixon) limited in minutes, especially in the first half. Makale Foreman came off the bench to score nine on 3-4 shooting beyond the arc, while Rodney Chatman and Trayvond Massenburg also provided good play in reserve.
 
"We get in unreal foul trouble and get a huge lift off the bench," McCall added. "We had Makale Foreman come in and Nat Dixon come in…Rodney [Chatman} and [Trayvond] Massenburg…it was just a total team effort."
 
The Mocs meet Arkansas State in Sunday's championship contest. Game time is Noon with the radio broadcast on 96.1 the Legend in Chattanooga. Links to live stats and audio (Mocs Sports Network) are on GoMocs.com's men's basketball schedule page.
 
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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).