STATS | NOTES | QUOTES | ABOUT CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
 
MARTIN, Tenn.---The Chattanooga Mocs lost 75-72 in heart-breaking fashion at UT Martin. A buzzer-beater topped a late dramatic effort of their own by Jerry Johnson, Jr.
 
Down three, 72-69, with the shot clock off, the Mocs worked the ball to Johnson on the wing. He drifted to his right, shot faked and then lofted a three that tickled the twine to knot the score at 72-all. The game was headed to overtime with just 1.3 seconds remaining.
 
The Skyhawks immediately in-bounded the ball. Preston Parks launched one from 75 feet. It found the bottom of the net. The referees double-checked and determined the ball was released in time, game to the Skyhawks.
 
"There's not much you can do with that shot, specifically," Coach Lamont Paris said. "We allowed ourselves to get in a position where we needed to have some great efforts from a couple people at the end of the game. It just wasn't a good day for us. It wasn't a good day at all, we didn't have that juice."
 
It was a six-point game, 68-62, with 1:55 remaining. The guards went into attack-mode on the offensive end. Johnson got it started with a 3pt play at the hoop. Two defensive stops and Johnson sliced through the defense for another layup. It was a one-point game, 68-67, inside 36 seconds.
 
UTM went to the line getting two from Qunicy Dove. Donovann Toatley zipped down the court for a physical layup under duress to get it back to one. An immediate foul sent Parks to the line to set the stage for the final seconds to play out.
 
Toatley led all scorers with 19 points. Johnson tallied 12, while Jonathan Scott and A.J. Caldwell added 10 apiece. Dove led the Skyhawks with 16 points.
 
Chattanooga closes out the pre-holiday slate with a lunch date with Bryan. The businessperson special is a Noon start on Friday, Dec. 21. Tickets are available on GoMocs.com or by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627).
 
RECORDS
Chattanooga 5-8 | UT Martin 5-4
 
SERIES
9-1 series lead…4-1 in Martin.
 
3 NOTES TO KNOW
Check out the full complement of notes at the link above.

• The Mocs last visit to Martin was a 48-42 win on Dec. 28, 1981...tonight was just fourth meeting of the DI era (starting 1977-78)...teams met six times as DII programs with home-and-homes during the 1974, 1975 and 1976 seasons.
• First buzzer-beater against the Mocs since Deonte Burton's deep three propelled Nevada to the win on Nov. 22, 2013.
• Toatley's 19 points tied his career high set in last month's win over Hiwassee.

 
3 STATS TO KNOW
Check out the full stats at the link above.

• 10 rebounds for Kevin Easley, his first double-digit rebounding effort. The team was out-boarded by three, 35-32.
• Skyhawks were +17 at the FT line over their visitors making 19 of 27 (70.4%) compared to two of three (66.7%) for the Mocs.
• 31 made field goals for the Mocs ties the squad high against a DI opponent. Also made 31 in the loss at Georgia State. Shot 50.0 percent (31-62) for the game, 57.6 percent (19-33).

 
QUOTABLE
Check out all of what we heard at the quotes link above.
"You tell them the truth. I know we have a young team, but they will have enough people telling them that they did a great job. We shouldn't have put ourselves in that situation. When you don't box out on one play, or can't get a loose ball...those are the game-altering plays. You play good enough defense and then give them a second chance and you have to do it all over again. The plays right around the basket that we didn't finish strong on. All the fundamental plays, at this level of basketball, you have to make or you won't win many games. Those are the plays that ultimately decide the outcome of the game." – Coach Lamont Paris on what to tell the team moving forward after close loss.
 
"Ramon [Vila] set a down screen and I kind of shrugged my guy off. I took a couple dribbles to the middle, pumped fake, defender went for it, and I had a good look at the rim." – Johnson on his game-tying shot.
 
DRIVE FOR 25
The Mocs Club began its "Drive for 25" campaign recently. It aims to raise $25,000 in scholarship funds for UTC student-athletes to which an anonymous donor has generously agreed to match. 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
Friday, Dec. 21: Bryan, Noon
Saturday, Dec. 29: at UNCG, 5 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 3: at Western Carolina, 7 p.m.
 
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
Duane Moss – Dwight
 
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.