STATS | NOTES | QUOTES | ABOUT CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
 
AKRON---The trio of Rodney Chatman, Nat Dixon and Joshua Phillips combined for 48 points in the Chattanooga Mocs 75-70 defeat at Akron. Chatman led the Mocs with 19 points, while Daniel Utomi led the Zips with 24 points and 13 rebounds.
 
Dixon contributed a career-high 16 points in the loss, while Phillips' 13 is his best total against a DI opponent looking over his entire body of work including three seasons at Middle Tennessee.
 
The Mocs got tantalizing close in the end, but couldn't get the plays to get the win. They were down 15, 43-28, early in the second half before a quick 7-0 run got them back in contention after a Chatman layup at 15:46.
 
The lead surged back to 12 before back-to-back deep threes from Dizon and Makale Foreman made it a six-point contest, 47-41. The Zips pulled ahead and the Mocs reeled them back in.
 
Utomi's three-point play at 1:53 signaled a nine-point cushion, 72-63. What looked like the end for the young group was just the beginning. Dixon answered with a three-point play of his own at 1:35.
 
Defensive stop and strong board work by James Lewis, Jr., added another point from the free throw line. A Utomi turnover was followed by Chatman's layup inside 30 seconds and it's a three-point game, 72-69.
 
But the Zips did not break  Utomi's three-pointer on the ensuing possession gave the home team their final points which held up when the Mocs could not get a big shot in the final seconds.
 
"You make runs and they make runs," Paris shared. "It got us back to where we needed to be, but it's too bad that we get a game like this, and I get a technical foul. I don't like doing that, but I had to fight for my guys.
 
"We just missed a lot of opportunities. We did some things well enough to get in a good position, but that doesn't make me feel great nor does our guys."
 
Paris' technical came at 7:15 in the first half. It was a 29-15 deficit at the time. UTC out-scored its hosts 55-46 the rest of the way.
 
ON THE RECORD
Chattanooga is 3-4, Akron improves to 3-1.
 
3 NOTES TO KNOW
View complete notes package from tonight at the notes link above. Three to know…

• Excellent shooting night from the field making 54.2 percent (26-48)…season high vs a DI opponent…53.1 percent (137-258) from the floor over the last five games.
• Two games, two double-figure scoring nights…13 points, 11 keeping his squad in the game during the first half…career high for a DI contest.
• First game vs. a MAC school since a Nov. 21, 2006 win at Ball State.

 
QUOTABLE
Access thoughts on tonight's game at the quotes link above.
 
"This team, I promise you they are learning so much. I'm really happy at the pace we're learning too. There's just a couple plays you have to make to learn to win game and more importantly there's plays that you can't make that'll lose you the game" - Paris on the team's fight.
 
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Check out the full box score at the link above. Here are three notable numbers.

• Phillips (11) and James Lewis, Jr. (6) had 17 of the team's 28 first half points. Rodney Chatman (16) and Nat Dixon (16) combined for 32 of the 42 after the break.
• -1 in turnover margin with 18 to Akron's 17 but the Zips had a 21-14 advantage in points off TOs.
• Chattanooga scored half its points (35) in the final 13:52.

 
COMING UP
The squad returns to Chattanooga Saturday, Dec. 2, hosting a doubleheader vs. UT Martin. The ladies tipoff at 2 p.m., with the men meeting at 5 p.m.
 
For the complete schedule, go here on GoMocs.com.
 
TICKETS ON SALE
Tickets are on sale – single-game and mini-plans – at all the usual places. To buy tickets, you can:
 

• Visit the Gate 1 Ticket Office at McKenzie Arena during business hours (closed Thursday & Friday opening at 5 p.m., Saturday)
• Call the McKenzie Arena Ticket Office at (423) 266-MOCS (6627) during business hours (closed Thursday & Friday opening at 5 p.m., Saturday).
• Go online via GoMocs.com: Single-Game | Mini-Plan
• Group tickets are available by calling (423) 425-5470 or emailing Barry Kamen or Allison Callari.

 
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