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CHATTANOOGA---The preliminaries are over. The main event is here with the start of Southern Conference play. An 18-game race to Asheville begins with a visit from early favorite Furman. The Paladins were picked first by the media by four votes and second by just two among the coaches.
 
Chattanooga's historic start earned makes this a highly-anticipated matchup. The Mocs were among other receiving votes in this week's AP Top 25 poll, and both teams are ranked in the collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Top 25. Furman swept the meetings a year ago in two hard-fought contests. The first was a 73-66 win in Chattanooga in January before a February tally of 58-53 in Greenville.
 
Malachi Smith is on an amazing run coming off a 29-point, 13-rebound willing of a win at Tennessee State. He's among the national leaders in rebounding and double-doubles from the point guard spot. A.J. Caldwell and Jamaal Walker have been consistent threats on the wing shooting 48.6 and 50 percent from 3pt range, respectively.
 
Mike Bothwell paces a Furman attack that enters the Scenic City posting 83.3 points per game. Bothwell averages 18.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Clay Mounce adds 14.5 points and 5.0 boards, while Noah Gurley chips in 14.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest.
 
The contest is on ESPN+ along with WFLI 97.7 FM/1070 AM in Chattanooga as well as the TuneIn app.
 
Game 10: Chattanooga (9-0/0-0) vs Furman (6-3/0-0)
Dec. 30 | 1 p.m. | McKenzie Arena (10,995)
 
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
TV: ESPN+. Chris Goforth (PxP) & Todd Agne (analysis)
 
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
91st meeting | Record: 54-36 | Home: 30-10 | Away: 18-25 | Neutral: 6-1 | SoCon Regular Season: 48-31
 
LAST MEETING
Feb. 15, 2020, Furman, 58-53: STORY | STATS | NOTES | QUOTES
 
COACHES
Chattanooga: Lamont Paris (Wooster '96) | UTC: 51-56 (4th season) | Career: Same | vs. Furman: 0-6
Furman: Bob Richey (North Greenville '06) | Furman: 79-29 (4th) | Career: Same | vs. UTC: 6-0
 
3 NOTES TO KNOW
- 9-0 start is a school record breaking the prior mark of 8-0 by the 1973-74 squad. The program fell just short of the in the years surrounding going 7-0 in 1972-73 and 1974-75.
- Chattanooga and Drake (11-0) are the only teams in the country to reach 9-0. One of nine teams with nine or wins: Drake, Minnesota (9-1) and BYU (9-2) and one of 21 remaining unbeaten teams (thru Dec. 28).
- Among others receiving votes in the AP Top 25 poll. First time since February 2016. Received votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll in November 2016. SoCon in CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25: Furman (5), Mercer (11) & Chattanooga (13) with UNC Greensboro and The Citadel receiving votes.
 
3 BONUS NOTES TO KNOW – SOCON OPENERS
- Chattanooga is 24-19 opening Southern Conference play all-time, 14-6 when starting at home.
- 5-1 all-time beginning with the Paladins, 2-0 in Chattanooga.
- The last time the Mocs opened with Furman was Jan. 4, 2014, a 72-63 win in Greenville. The last time at home? Dec. 16, 2002, a 66-49 triumph.
 
STREAKS ON THE LINE
- 9-game win streak is the longest since nine in a row from Jan. 11-Feb. 8, 2016. The Mocs have seven streaks of 10 or more wins in its history. The last? 11 from Jan. 6-Feb. 6, 1997. The current run is tied for the seventh longest in the nation.
- Five straight opponents held to 68 points or less and seven of nine this season. Won last 10 when holding the opposition below 70. Last loss? 58-53 at Furman last Feb.
- 5-game home winning streak.
 
NEXT 3 OPPONENTS
Jan. 2: at VMI, 1 p.m. | Current Record: 5-4 | Next Opp: at Samford (Dec. 30)
Jan. 6: Samford, 7 p.m. | Current Record: 5-3 | Next Opp: VMI (Dec. 30)
Jan. 9: at The Citadel, 1 p.m. | Current Record: 7-0 | Next Opp: UNC Greensboro (Dec. 30)
 
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