CHATTANOOGA --- The Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball team returns to McKenzie Arena on Saturday afternoon to face Mercer in WHITE OUT conditions as the squad looks to rebound and keep pace in the Southern Conference title race. Tip-off is set for 12:01 p.m. ET and will be nationally-televised on ESPNU.
 
Fans are highly encouraged to wear WHITE in addition to the first 1,500 fans receiving WHITE OUT rally towels, courtesy of Dr Pepper. The game is the front leg of a doubleheader with the women's squad hosting Samford at 3 p.m. ET. Halftime Dogs Flying Disc Show will perform at halftime during both games on Saturday.
 
Chattanooga (18-5, 8-2 SoCon) looks to bounce back from Wednesday's night loss at Samford as the team now sits a half-game back of Furman who has played to a 9-2 mark in league action. The Mocs will play Mercer twice in three days as the originally-scheduled January 1 contest was PPD to Monday, February 7 due to COVID protocols within the Bears program.
 
Mercer (13-10, 6-4 SoCon) is coming off a 67-62 victory over Wofford at home on Monday after the team suffered back-to-back losses at Samford (75-61) last Wednesday and at home against Furman (80-50) on Saturday. The Bears currently sit closely behind the Mocs in the league standings at third place.

The game vs. Mercer will be televised nationally on ESPNU and can also be accessed through the Watch ESPN platform. Fans can also listen LIVE on WFLI 96.1 FM/100.3 FM/1070 AM in Chattanooga as well as the Varsity Network app.

GAME BASICS
▪ Chattanooga (18-5, 8-2) vs. Mercer (13-10, 6-4)
▪ 12:01 p.m. ET | McKenzie Arena (10,995) | Chattanooga, Tenn.
▪ WATCH (ESPNU) | LISTEN (WFLI 96.1FM/100.3FM/1070AM) | STATS
▪ WHERE TO WATCH: EPB (330), DirecTV (208), AT&T U-Verse (605), Comcast (396), Dish (141)
▪ BUY TICKETS | STUDENT TICKETS

RADIO NOTE: WFLI added 96.1 and 100.3 FM to their arsenal of stations. The previous agreement had the Mocs on 97.7 FM and 1070 AM which was a good base of operation. Starting this weekend, 96.1 takes the place of 97.7 while 100.3 is added. The change to 96.1 adds the audio reach by roughly 100,000 homes while 100.3 expands the overall coverage further north of the Tennessee River especially strengthening the signal in Hixson and Soddy-Daisy.
 
Mocs Sports Network is developed by Mocs Sports Properties, the Learfield-owned multimedia rights holder for Mocs athletics. MSN broadcasts every men's and women's basketball and football game as well as "Chat with the Mocs", a weekly coach's show covering all things Mocs.
 
Mocs Sports Network Stations: 96.1 FM, 100.3 FM & 1070 AM.

GAME NOTES
Chattanooga | Mercer | SoCon
 
SERIES HISTORY – 83^rd Meeting
All-Time: 41-41 – Tied
Last: 81-77 (OT), Mercer– Feb. 24, 2021 (Macon, Ga.)
Home: 23-13 – Chattanooga
Away: 27-15 – Mercer
Neutral: 3-1 – Chattanooga

TIP-OFF
- Chattanooga enters the game with an 18-5 record and an 8-2 mark in SoCon play... half game back in the SoCon standings (Furman, 9-2)... coming off an 80-72 road loss at Samford on Wednesday... loss snapped a five-game win streak.
 
- Chattanooga lost to Mercer 81-77 in overtime in its last meeting on February 24, 2021 in Macon... the game featured 11 lead changes and 12 ties... the most in each category during the 2020-21 season... David Jean-Baptiste led the team with 24 points and became the 14th Moc of all-time to score 1,250 points.
 
- Mercer enters the matchup with a 13-10 overall record and a 6-4 record inside the league... the Bears are coming off a 67-62 victory over Wofford at home on Monday after the team suffered back-to-back losses at Samford (75-61) last Wednesday and at home against Furman (80-50)... Mercer currently sits closely behind the Mocs in the league standings in third place.

BY THE NUMBERS 
- David Jean-Baptiste scored a career-high 31 points with the help of a career-high eight three pointers in Wednesday night's loss at Samford... only Moc to score in double figures... bested his previous career high of 29 which he set last season at VMI (1/2/21)... also bested his three-point total of seven which he set earlier this season at Lipscomb (12/5/21).
 
- Jean-Baptiste now has 1,599 career points which is 49 points shy of fourth all-time – David Bryan (1966-69) with 1,648... 268 career three pointers builds on his school record... 32 shy of becoming 8th SoCon student-athlete with 300 made in a career.
 
- Malachi Smith has been named the Southern Conference's Player of the Month for his efforts in January... Smith averaged 23.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.4 assists per contest in the month to help lead Chattanooga to a 7-1 record in the month.

FAN INFORMATION & COVID-19 GUIDELINES
Masks are no longer required for fans inside McKenzie, however, the use of masks is encouraged. McKenzie Arena and parking services will operate on a CASHLESS basis for the 2021-22 season. Ticket purchases at the box office will still accept cash. Will Call will be located at Gate 1.

CLEAR BAG POLICY
In an effort to enhance spectator safety and align with national best-practices, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Athletics Department has a clear bag policy for home games in all of its athletics facilities. 
 
Fans are allowed to bring in one plastic, vinyl or PVC clear bag that does not exceed 12" x 6" x 12" to home games.
 
Other items on the approved list include:
               - Storage Bag:  One Gallon re-sealable clear plastic freezer bag.
                - Small Clutch Purse:  No larger than 4.5" x 6.5" with or without a handle or strap. 
                - Seat Cushion or Bleacher Chair:  No larger than 16" and no pockets. 
                - Small Diaper Bag:  Must be accompanied by a child. 
 
Prohibited items include:
                - Large Purse
                - Large Tote
                - Non-Clear/Printed Tote
                - Duffel Bag
                - Drawstring Bag
                - Backpack
                - Fanny Pack
                - Camera Bag

FOLLOW CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
Follow @GoMocsMBB on Twitter & on Instagram for the most up-to-date information and news regarding Chattanooga men's basketball.
 
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