STATS | NOTES | QUOTES | PHOTO GALLERY
 
CHATTANOOGA---The Chattanooga Mocs scored a season-high 52 points in the first half to run away with an 85-59 win over visiting VMI. The victory is a program-record 24th in the regular season and is also the highest total in the nation this season.
 
Dee Oldham led the way with a career-high 14 points off the bench. Chuck Ester tied his career best with 13, while Tre' McLean added 12 points and a career-high 13 rebounds for his second straight double-double. Justin Tuoyo tallied 11 points, six boards and four blocks.
 
Q.J. Peterson had a game-high 24 points for the Keydets. Phillip Anglade chipped in 13 points and tied Julian Eleby for team-high honors with four rebounds.
 
The Mocs jumped out to a 20-3 lead on an Alex Bran 3pt at 14:38. With a 32-20 lead with 5:16 left, the squad closed the first 20 like it started it with another 20-3 spurt. Duke Ethridge's layup with 14 seconds capped the scoring sending the teams into intermission with UTC up 52-23.
 
"I just came out aggressive," Ester shared. "It can be anyone's night (on this team). I guess tonight was my night."
 
Ethridge's dunk at 14:55 gave his team a 62-23 advantage as the Mocs started the second frame with 10 straight points. The lead reached its zenith of 40, 67-27, on Ester's slam at 13:10. The closest it got was 24, 81-57, on Armani Branch's jumper with 2:39 to play.
 
"I think Chuck is one of those guys," coach Matt McCall stated. "We've talked about this before, what he does and the impact that he has on the floor does not always show up on the stat sheet. He's always in the right spot defensively, and he impacts winning in so many different ways. Tonight he was open, he made some shots, but his impact on this team is so much more than just stats.
 
"He's guarding forwards, he's guarding guards, he's guarding five's, and he does a tremendous job rebounding the ball for us. Sometimes his impact on our team doesn't show up on the stat sheet, but as a coach I know exactly what he does and how important he is to our team."
 
The Mocs shot 55.9 percent from the field making 33 of 59 shots. They were quite efficient inside the 3pt arc making 66.7 percent (24) of their 36 attempts. Defense was very stingy limiting VMI to 34.5 percent (19-55) from the field including 26.3 percent (5-19) from beyond the arc.
 
UTC's record improves to 24-4, 13-2 leading the Southern Conference. Furman and ETSU are two games back in second at 11-4, while Wofford lurks in fourth at 10-5.
 
"I thought our guys came with the right focus, the right mentality," McCall continued. "We talked a lot about fighting human nature, in complacency and understanding. There is a lot on the line right now that we are playing for. I even put up there on the board, a lot of these top 25 teams that have lost to unranked opponents because of their focus and mentality. 
 
"Anyone can beat anyone on any given night if you don't have the right focus and the right mentality. I thought our guys had a business-like win tonight. They really handled their business so I was proud of them."
 
Chattanooga takes on UNCG Saturday in a doubleheader at 5 p.m., following the women facing Mercer in a battle for first-place. A win for the men clinches at least a tie for the regular season title.
 
"We understand what is at stake," McLean added. "Tonight was a championship game for us. Saturday will be a championship game for us and the next Saturday will too. Every game from here on out is a championship game for us, and that's how we are going to approach it."
 
Saturday is Kids Free Day with all youth getting in free with a paid adult. There are free hot dog vouchers for the first 500 fans entering the gates along with another 500 hot dogs earmarked for students prior to the men's game.
 
It airs on the SoCon Digital Network online and the Mocs Sports Network through 96.1 the Legend FM in Chattanooga. Check the men's basketball schedule page on GoMocs.com for links to video, audio and live stats. Follow @GoMocsMBB for live tweets.
 
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).