STATS |
NOTES |
QUOTES |
PHOTOS |
ABOUT CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
CHATTANOOGA---The Chattanooga Mocs got off to a slow start, but used a strong end to the first half and beginning of the second to take control in a 95-62 win over Hiwassee.
Jerry Johnson, Jr., led five Mocs in double figures with a season-high 20 points.
It was 31-31 with 4:33 remaining in the opening period. Chattanooga held the Tigers scoreless for the next 5:40 to jump out to a 15-point advantage. Johnson's triple to open the second frame capped the run, but the key was defense.
"That's what I talked about mostly at halftime," Coach
Lamont Paris shared. "I said sense of urgency, effort and energy on the defensive end. There were some times where I thought we were in the vicinity of a guy, not like it was terrible defense, but college basketball players make plays and make shots.
"There was no sense of urgency, no energy, not the kind you need to have to win Division I basketball games. That's what we talked about at halftime and we came out and adjusted in the second half."
Hiwassee started out 12-for-19 (63.2%) before six straight misses and four turnovers turned the tide the Mocs way. Back-to-back baskets for Bryant Bernard and Naquon Newman cut it back to 10, 46-36, with 18:09 to go.
The Mocs consistently scored from there. Nearly six minutes later, the lead was 24, 69-45, on a
Kevin Easley jumper. The Tigers battled, but they could not match the Mocs bucket-for-bucket. Johnson pushed the lead over 30, 87-56, with two free throws with 3:49 remaining.
David Jean-Baptiste scored on three of the final four possessions for the 34-point margin of victory.
Bernard led all scorers with 24 points. He also had seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. He was eight-of-14 shooting, while the rest of the squad managed just 36/4 percent shooting (16-44).
Jean-Baptiste and
Donovann Toatley had 19 points apiece off the bench.
Justin Brown added 14 points and a game-high eight boards.
The Mocs stay in Gig City this weekend for the second of three straight at home. Tennessee Tech visits on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 2 p.m., followed by the Southern Conference opener with VMI on Sunday, Dec. 9, at 1 p.m. Tickets are available on GoMocs.com or by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627).
RECORDS
Chattanooga 3-5 | Hiwassee 5-5
SERIES
Chattanooga takes an 8-0 lead in the series…7-0 in Chattanooga.
3 NOTES TO KNOW
Check out the full complement of notes at the link above.
- Five steals by Jerry Johnson, Jr., is the most by a Moc since Tre' McLean had the same number in the December 2016 win over Marshall.
- Five double-digit scorers for the first time since last February's narrow loss at Western Carolina.
- Season highs of 19 assists and 13 steals…most steals since Feb. 4, 2017 win over Western Carolina.
3 STATS TO KNOW
Check out the full stats at the link above.
QUOTABLE
Check out all of what we heard at the quotes link above.
"I thought some of the highest quality opportunities we got were from some of the most basic things we did. When we got out of doing the basic stuff, the things that you can do against anyone, then our shot quality went down, and we weren't getting enough good looks." –
Coach Lamont Paris on basic thoughts after the contest.
"We were just talking about getting stops in successions. Not worrying about the offense so much, but just getting stops, and stops, and stops. More than likely, we got steals and those stops ultimately extended our lead." –
Junior guard Jerry Johnson, Jr.
GIVING TUESDAY
The Mocs Club is participating in #GivingTuesday on Tuesday, Nov. 27. The athletics fund-raising arm is beginning its "Drive for 25" campaign on #GivingTuesday. The campaign aims to raise $25,000 in scholarship funds for UTC student-athletes to which an anonymous donor has generously agreed to match.
Created in 2012, Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Observed on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely-recognized Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday kicks off the charitable season, which includes holiday and end-of-year giving.
There is also a "Drive for 25" raffle. For each gift at the below giving levels, donors will automatically be entered into drawing for the Mocs Club Raffle:
- $250 and above donors: Official UTC gear (2 winners)
- $500 and above donors: Signed Terrell Owens football (2 winners)
- $1,000 and above donors: 2 courtside seats to a mutually agreed upon home basketball game (2 winners)
- $2,500 and above donors: Official UTC Helmet (1 winner)
- $5,000 and above donors: Accompany the UTC Men's Basketball team to one mutually agreed upon away game
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Saturday, Dec. 1: Tennessee Tech, 2 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 9: VMI, 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 12: at Georgia State, 7 p.m.
SOCON SCOREBOARD
at The Citadel 112, High Point 87
ETSU 69, at Georgia Southern 64
at Mercer 90, Brewton-Parker 65
at UNCG 111, Greensboro 33
American 74, at VMI 64
at Wake Forest 71, Western Carolina 64
GOMOCS.COM IN A WORD FEATURE SERIES
David Jean-Baptiste –
Engaged
Thomas Smallwood –
Dad
Rod Johnson –
Mayor
Kevin Easley –
Goofy
Justin Brown –
Waffle
Jerry Johnson, Jr. –
Buckets
Jonathan Scott –
Energy
Keigan Kerby –
Hair
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Buy officially licensed gear in our online store. 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.
