GAME NOTES | VIRTUAL BLUE OUT | ABOUT CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
 
CHATTANOOGA---There's not a more special night in McKenzie Arena than when ETSU visits. Since the Roundhouse opened in 1982, there have been many battles but still a healthy respect among combatants. Another awaits with a lot on the line in 2021.
 
The Mocs are riding a 4-game win streak. The Bucs snapped a brief losing skid by whipping Wofford by 22, 71-49, on Saturday. Both squads are primed for a race to the finish in the league race with the all-important tournament in Asheville awaiting.
 
But first is a Monday Roundhouse date. The first meeting between the two teams saw the Mocs dominate through the first three media timeouts of both halves to a tune of 41-20. The Bucs closed each half strong. Chattanooga led for 38:16.1, ETSU 0:10.9. The guests needed a heroic shot by A.J. Caldwell to celebrate in Johnson City.
 
The race to Asheville is bunched up. Just three games separate second place ETSU (8-4) and seventh-place Mercer (5-7). The Mocs continue to scale the standings and lie just 2.5 games out of first (UNCG, 10-3).
 
It's a busy week with three games over six days - ETSU (Mon.), Western Carolina (Wed.) and at UNCG (Sat.). It's center stage for the Mocs and Bucs as the only SoCon matchup.
 
Watch on ESPN+ or listen on WFLI 97.7 FM/1070 AM in Chattanooga as well as the TuneIn app.
 
Game 22: Chattanooga (16-5/7-5) vs. ETSU (12-8/8-4)
Feb. 15 | 7 p.m. | McKenzie Arena (10,995)
 
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Week 1: Henry Dickerson, Trail Blazer (Podcast)
Week 2: Johnny Taylor, Taylor Made
 
TICKETS
Tickets are still available and can be purchased here or by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627). Limited supply remains. Student tickets are free (as always) but reservation is required here. All tickets are general admission this season with social distancing required between seat blocks.
 
The games air on ESPN+ or over the airwaves in Chattanooga via WFLI 97.7 FM and 1070 AM. Links for video, audio and live stats for each contest is located on the men's basketball schedule page.
 
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
TV: ESPN+. Chris Gofoth (PxP) & Todd Agne (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.   
 
vs. ETSU
93rd meeting | Record: 48-44 | Home: 25-12 | Away: 16-25 | Neutral: 7-7 | SoCon Regular Season: 34-25
Last Meeting: STORY | STATS | NOTES | QUOTES
- 93 meetings rank third most all time behind Samford (105) and Western Carolina (96).
- 60th regular season SoCon square off is fifth most often opponent: Western Carolina (81), The Citadel (80), Furman (79) & Appalachian State (65).
- One of six schools beaten 30 or more times in SoCon play: The Citadel (64), Western Carolina (55), Furman (48), VMI (41), App State (37) & ETSU (34).
- Most frequent opponent at crunch time with 16 meetings in SoCon Tournament play (8-8).
- The Mocs (30) and the Bucs (17) rank second and fourth all-time in SoCon titles. Chattanooga owns 11 regular season, 11 tournament and eight division, while ETSU add five regular season, seven tournaments and five division. Since the Mocs entry in the SoCon in 1977-78, the duo ranks first and third. More SoCon History on page 7.
 
COACHES
Chattanooga: Lamont Paris (Wooster '96) | UTC: 58-61 (4th season) | Career: Same | vs. ETSU: 1-8
ETSU: Jason Shay (Iowa '95) | ETSU: 12-8 (1st) | Career: Same | vs. UTC: 0-1
 
3 NOTES TO KNOW
- 12-4 in single-digit margin games, 6-0 when decided by three or less.
- A win marks the 1st regular-season sweep of ETSU since 2016. A loss means the first SoCon regular season series split since 1997. The last with a win on the road & a loss at home? 1992.
- The last three wins included great starts. The Mocs out-scored opponents by 45 (83-38) over the first 13 minutes. That's an average of 27.7-12.7.
 
3 STATS TO KNOW
- 13-0 this season & 28-4 over last two when holding opponents below 70 points. The Bucs are 8-1 when scoring 70-plus.
- +50 (97-47) in points off turnovers over last six and +24 turnover margin (4.0). Averaging 9.4 TOs per SoCon game.
- The Mocs lead the SoCon in defensive rebound percentage (.760) overall and free throws (79.4%) and A/TO ratio (1.3) in league games only. Stefan Kenić paces the SoCon in FT percentage (86.8%) in total games. SoCon only 3pt leader is David Jean-Baptiste (45.2%).
 
NEXT 3 OPPONENTS
Feb. 17: Western Carolina, 7 p.m. | Current Record: 9-12/2-10 | Next Opp: at Chattanooga (Feb. 17)
Feb. 20: at UNC Greensboro, 5 p.m. | Current Record: 15-6/10-3 | Next Opp: at VMI (Feb. 17)
Feb. 24: at Mercer, 7 p.m. | Current Record: 12-8/5-7 | Next Opp: at ETSU (Feb. 17)
 
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