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CHATTANOOGA---It's not the second opponent the Chattanooga Mocs expected, but it is what this year's season is allowing early on. The Mocs travel to Cookeville for a matchup with Tennessee Tech. It's both team's second game after the UTC-Northern Kentucky Saturday date was postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test at NKU.
 
Chattanooga is coming off a 99-63 win over Lander. That too was a change in plans after Bellarmine halted team activities prior to the scheduled appointment in McKenzie Arena. The Bearcats, coached by former Mocs wing Omar Wattad '12, stepped in as the home team claimed the lead on the first possession and never looked back.
 
All 10 Mocs who played last Wednesday scored five or more points. The last time the whole playing lineup opened the season like that was the Nov. 8, 2013 win over Covenant: Gee McGhee 19, Z. Mason 16, Greg Pryor 14, Lance Stokes 13, Eric Robertson 13, Martynas Bareika 12, Alex Bran 10, Andrew Houts 7 & T.J. Williams 6.
 
The Mocs and Golden Eagles have a long history. Monday's meeting is No. 60 between the two programs that have never shared a conference. That's the third-longest non-conference series behind Tennessee Wesleyan (68) and next Sunday's opponent Middle Tennessee (65).
 
Despite the long-standing rivalry, the two schools haven't played much of late. This is just the seventh meeting this century with three wins in Chattanooga and three losses in Cookeville. It is the third in Lamont Paris' fourth season.
 
Only two current Mocs have experience against Tennessee Tech and just one who's played in Cookeville. David Jean-Baptiste has 15 points, two rebounds and two assists in his two matchups, while A.J. Caldwell had two rebounds and three assists in 11 minutes of the 71-60 win in the most recent meeting. It was Caldwell's Chattanooga debut.
 
Game 2.1: Chattanooga (1-0) at Tennessee Tech (0-1)
Nov. 30 | Cookeville | Eblen Center (7,500)
 
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
TV: ESPN+: Dylan Vazzano (PBP) and Michael Cooper (analyst)
 
RADIO: WFLI 97.7 FM/1070 AM. Jim Reynolds is in his 41st year as the "Voice of the Mocs". The audio broadcast is also available on the TuneIn app.   
 
SERIES INFO
Meetings: 59 | Record: 19-40 | H: 14-12, A: 5-28, N: 0-0
 
COACHES
Chattanooga: Lamont Paris (Wooster '96) | UTC: 43-56 (4th season) | Career: Same | vs. TTU: 1-1
TTU: John Pelphrey (Kentucky '92) | TTU: 9-23 (2nd) | Career: 158-149 (11th) | vs. UTC: 0-0
 
3 Notes to Know
- Malachi Smith's opening day double-double is the first at Chattanooga since Justin Tuoyo (22/11) and Tre McLean (21/10) did it in the 2016 win at Tennessee. It's the first in a student-athlete debut since...you guessed it. Tuoyo's 11 points & 13 rebounds in the 2014 opening win over Hiwassee.
- 100th game leading the Mocs for Paris.
- 99 points against Lander is sixth time in last eight openers topping 80 points and fourth with 90+ (92 at Georgia, 11/13/15; 110 vs. Hiwassee, 11/14/14 & 119 vs. Covenant, 11/8/13).
 
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