GAME NOTES |
STATS |
CLEAR BAG POLICY |
TICKETS |
ABOUT CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
CHATTANOOGA---The Chattanooga Mocs return to the court Saturday night at Samford. The pivotal Southern Conference matchup tips off at 5 p.m., Eastern time.
The Mocs won the first meeting 80-75 in Chattanooga 35 days ago.
Kevin Easley led the way with 20 points, while
Ramon Vila tallied his first career double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. All five Samford starters reached double figures paced by Josh Sharkey's 22.
Easley leads the Mocs averaging 14.7 points and 6.4 boards per game. He's already set program freshman records for rebounds (166) and 3pt made (46). He's closing in on scoring (-15), FG made (-12) and 3pt attempts (-8) with FG attempts (-28) not lagging too far behind.
He is 17 points shy of 400 which would make him the first freshman to top the 400-point plateau and first in their first year in the Scenic City since Omar Wattad '12 score 456 in 2010-11 transferring after two years at Georgetown.
Donovann Toatley (11.9), Vila (10.6) and
Jerry Johnson, Jr. (10.0) also average double figures. Sharkey leads the Bulldogs posting 16.1 points and a league-best 7.7 assists per contest. Ruben Guerrero adds 13.7-point and 8.2-rebound averages.
Saturday's game has early Ingles Southern Conference Championships Presented by General Shale seeding implications.
*Cue dramatic music.* Chattanooga is fifth in the league at 6-7, one ahead of Samford in sixth at 5-8. The top six in the final standings earn a bye in the tourney quarterfinals. Mercer (4-9) is one game behind the Bulldogs in seventh. Both the Mocs and Samford play at Mercer next weekend.
How important is earning a bye? Clemson (1939) is the only school to win it with four victories in four days over bye teams. Duke (1948), Furman (2002 & 2014), Elon (2008), College of Charleston (2009) & Western Carolina (2012) lost in the title tilt on day 4 vs. a team playing its third game.
Game No. 27: Chattanooga (11-15/6-7) at Samford (15-11/5-8)
Site: Birmingham, Ala. | Hanna Center (5,000)
Time (EST): 5 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+ | Curt Bloom (PxP), Rick Cleveland (Analysis) & Boyd Kaiser (sideline).
Listen: There are three places where you can find "Voice of the Mocs" Jim Reynolds' call. In Chattanooga, listen on 96.1 FM on the dial. Away from the Scenic City, catch it either on
GoMocs.com or the
TuneIn app. Links to video, audio and live stats are provided on the
men's basketball schedule page.
Tickets: Tickets for home events can be
purchased on GoMocs.com or by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627).
Clear Bag Policy: Click the link above for our "Clear Bag Policy" for ALL home events.
Last Meeting:
80-75 Win in Chattanooga
PROBABLE STARTERS
F – 1 –
Jonathan Scott: 6.5 ppg | 3.5 rpg
F – 34 –
Kevin Easley: 14.7 ppg | 6.4 rpg
C – 15 –
Ramon Vila: 10.6 ppg | 4.7 rpg
G – 3 –
David Jean-Baptiste: 8.8 ppg | 2.4 rpg
G – 2 –
Jerry Johnson, Jr.: 10.0 ppg | 3.4 rpg
SERIES VS. SAMFORD
Chattanooga leads 60-38 | SoCon Regular Season: 15-6 | Home: 41-12 | Away: 17-26 | Neutral: 2-0
Last 10 meetings:
| Date |
Site |
Result |
Score |
| 2/14/2015 |
H |
W |
79-72 |
| 1/30/2016 |
A |
W |
63-56 |
| 2/27/2016 |
H |
W |
77-66 |
| 3/5/2016 |
N |
W |
59-54 |
| 1/21/2017 |
H |
W |
82-78 |
| 2/22/2017 |
A |
L |
68-72 (OT) |
| 12/30/2017 |
A |
L |
56-73 |
| 1/24/2018 |
H |
W |
78-71 |
| 3/2/2018 |
N |
W |
89-79 |
| 1/12/2019 |
H |
W |
80-75 |
NOTABLE
- 99th meeting is six more than the next closest opponent in school history (Western Carolina-93). The 60 series wins vs. the Bulldogs ranks third on the all-time win list (Western Carolina 66 & Citadel 64).
- Playing for second regular season sweep of season (VMI). Keydets was first since Western Carolina and Wofford in 2016-17.
- Ramon Vila is shooting 62.3 percent from the field. The last Moc to shoot 60 percent or better making at least four FG per game? Justin Tuoyo, 64.5%, 2016-17. Before Tuoyo? Chris Mims' 64.8% in 1996-97.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Feb. 21 at The Citadel, 7 p.m.
Feb. 23 at Mercer, 4 p.m.
Feb. 28 vs. Wofford, 7 p.m.
SOCON WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Feb. 14 (Thursday)
at ETSU 91, The Citadel 83
Mercer 74, at Western Carolina 65
at Wofford 95, VMI 84
at Furman 67, UNCG 57
Feb. 16 (Saturday)
Chattanooga at Samford, 5 p.m.
The Citadel at Western Carolina, 2 p.m.
Mercer at ETSU, 4 p.m.
VMI at Furman, 4:30 p.m.
UNCG at Wofford, 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
Ramon Vila –
Everyman
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