STATS | NOTES | QUOTES | ABOUT CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
 
CHATTANOOGA---Jerry Johnson, Jr, led the Chattanooga Mocs with 13 points in a 73-58 loss at Furman Thursday night. The loss ended the Mocs three-game win streak.
 
Jordan Lyons led a quartet of Paladins in double figures. Matt Rafferty added 15 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and six steals. Alex Hunter and Noah Gurley also hit double digits with 12 and 10, respectively.
 
Furman led throughout and appeared poised to run away with it early in the second half. The Mocs scored on four of five possessions with baskets by Johnson, Jonathan Scott and Johnson again before Thomas Smallwood was fouled making a 3pt at the top of the key. His four-point play cut the lead to seven, 47-40.
 
The squad just could not get over that hurdle. The Paladins scored on their next four trips to get the advantage to 14 before Maurice Commander ended the Mocs field goal drought with a layup at 9:33.
 
Gig City's team got within nine three more times. The last came on a Johnson jumper with 6:17 to go making it 66-54. They scored just twice more the rest of the way.
 
"We just have to be better," Coach Lamont Paris shared in his post-game radio show. "I wasn't mad at the guys at all, I was a little disappointed in the play, but bottom line was we didn't make enough plays. Things weren't going in our favor because they were so physical. They were quicker to the ball and faster than us in certain areas."
 
Chattanooga and Furman are now tied for fourth in the SoCon standings at 5-3. They trail Wofford (8-0), UNCG (7-1) and ETSU (6-2). Mercer (3-5), Samford (2-6), Western Carolina (2-6), VMI (1-7) and The Citadel (1-7) follow.
 
The Mocs and Terriers square off Saturday night in Spartanburg on ESPN+ online and Real 96.1 FM in Chattanooga at 7 p.m. The squad returns to the Roundhouse in next weekend hosting Western Carolina (Jan. 31) and ETSU (Feb. 2). Tickets are available on GoMocs.com or by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627).
 
RECORDS
Chattanooga 10-11/5-3 | Furman 16-4/5-3
 
3 NOTES TO KNOW
Check out the full complement of notes at the link above.

• 87th meeting with against the Paladins ranks third on the all-time charts at Chattanooga behind Samford and Western Carolina (92).
• Loss snapped 3-game winning streak…the Mocs are 4-2 in January.
• Chattanooga is now 0-9 when trailing at halftime…Furman led 31-23 at the break.

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

• 53.7 percent shooting for Furman…5th opponents this season (21 games) to shoot 50 percent or better.
• 40.0 percent from the floor for the Mocs…lowest shooting percentage since 36.1 percent at No. 8 Michigan.
• 12 of Chattanooga's 14 turnovers were credited as steals for the hosts…most by an opponent this season…Western Carolina (12) was the last team with 12 or more against the Mocs coming on Jan. 4 of last year.

 
QUOTABLE
Check out all of what we heard at the quotes link above.
"They had really quick hands. Apparently a lot quicker than what we had thought coming in. They were very good at using them tonight too." – Coach Lamont Paris on the forced turnovers.
 
"His emotions come through and most of the time it's for the better. It normally helps us all. I thought he really competed hard tonight and made some plays for us. I thought he kept his head inside the game and was very realistic about the certain situations he was in." – Paris on the play of Jerry Johnson, Jr.
 
SOCON SCOREBOARD
at UNCG 83, The Citadel 60
at Wofford 107, Samford 106 (OT)
at Mercer 88, VMI 68
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Jan. 26 at Wofford, 7 p.m.
Jan. 31 vs. Western Carolina, 8 p.m. (DH with women facing WCU at 5:30)
Feb. 2 vs. ETSU, 4:30 p.m. (DH-Women vs. UNCG)
 
SOCON TOURNAMENT TICKETS
The Ingles Southern Conference Tournament Presented by General Shale is March 8-11 in Asheville, N.C. Tickets are available here on GoMocs.com as well as the Gate 1 Ticket Office at McKenzie Arena. Chattanooga Tournament Headquarters is at the Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park.
 
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
Ramon Vila – Everyman  
 
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