GAME NOTES | MEDIA CENTER | ULM
 
CHATTANOOGA---It's been a long time coming. Through seven games, the Chattanooga Mocs are 5-2 with six contests coming away from the comforting environs of McKenzie Arena. The Mocs open a three-game homestand with the University of Louisiana at Monroe. While it's good to be home, Coach Matt McCall looks to avoid getting comfortable in preparation.
 
"One thing I've talked to our team about is the human nature saying we'll be ok…we're at home. The second you do that, you get beat. It starts Saturday against a very good opponent that was one of our six losses last year.
 
"They hang their hat on playing hard and being extremely physical. So we have our work cut out for us. Just to say we're at home, we'll be OK, we can't do that. We've had an edge to us these last two games that we need to going into this game."
 
UTC has won its last two games impressive fashion and in different ways. An offensive explosion led to an 88-71 win at Kennesaw State last Saturday, while suffocating defense claimed a 68-52 triumph at Coastal Carolina.
 
Forward Justin Tuoyo leads the way averaging 14.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game. He ranks fourth in the country in blocks per game. Greg Pryor (13.4 ppg) and Tre' McLean (12.3) also average in double figures. McLean is coming off quite a night Coastal where he tallied 26 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.
 
ULM has a balanced attack led by Travis Munnings' 12.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per contest. Nick Coppola (11.8, 44.8% 3pt), Jordon Harris (11.7, 44.7% 3pt) and Marvin Jean-Pierre (11.5) also contribute double-figure points. Coppola runs the show at the point with an impressive 34:4 assist/turnover ratio which is the nation's second-best mark.
 
"Outside of Joel Berry, [Coppola] is probably the best point guard we've played this year," McCall added. "He controls the whole game. The ball is in his hands. He's had 34 assists with just four turnovers on the year, that's an impressive stat for anybody. It starts with him.
 
"They're a physical team. When shots go up, they're flying to the backboard so we have to rebound the ball and get our pace into the game. They'll want to slow it down while we'll want to speed it up."
 
The 2 p.m., start airs online on the SoCon Digital Network and over the airwaves at 98.1 the Lake 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.
 
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).