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CHATTANOOGA (Dec. 29, 2023) --- The Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball team will conclude the non-conference slate with its toughest test of the season, travelling to perennial SEC-power (RV) Auburn for a Saturday late-night clash inside the always sold out Neville Arena. Tip-off is set for 9:05 p.m. ET / 8:05 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
 
Chattanooga (8-4) is looking to rebound from a tough 85-83 overtime loss last Friday on the road at Milwaukee, a game in which the Mocs trailed by as many as 16 before rallying to force the extra frame. Trey Bonham led the scoring attack with a team-high 25 points while Honor Huff and Tyler Millin each added 19 points with Millin's total marking a new career best.
 
Auburn (9-2) enters Saturday's contest winners of its last four which included neutral site wins over Indiana and UNC Asheville and home wins over USC and Alabama State. AU is ranked among the nation's best as the Tigers are slotted No. 10 in the KenPom ratings and No. 21 in the RPI/NET while sitting one spot out in both the AP Top 25 & USA Today Coaches Poll. Auburn is a combined 35-2 (5-0 this season) at home since the start of the 2021-22 season.  

Full game preview including coverage links, notes, and more can be found below.

GAME DETAILS
Chattanooga (8-4) at (RV/RV) Auburn (9-2)
9:05 p.m. ET ∙ Neville Arena (Auburn, Ala. ∙ 9,121)
All-Time Series ∙ Tied 2-2 (last: @UTC 87, AU 75 – 12/29/91)
 
MEDIA COVERAGE
WATCH ∙ SEC Network (PxP: Dave Neal; Analyst: Dane Bradshaw)
LISTEN ∙ WFLI 96.1FM, 100.3FM, 1070AM – Varsity Network – GoMocs.com
LIVE STATS ∙ GoMocs.com
FOLLOW ∙ X/Twitter: @GoMocsMBB  
 
GAME NOTES
Chattanooga ∙ Auburn ∙ SoCon

WIN STREAK SNAPPED IN 85-83 OT LOSS AT UWM
- Chattanooga (8-4) saw its three-game win streak snapped during an 85-83 overtime defeat at Milwaukee last Friday inside UWM Panther Arena. Trailing by as many as 16 in the first half, UTC forced OT after scoring 49 second-half points as a late Tyler Millin three tied things at 72-72 at the end of regulation. UWM outscored UTC 13-11 in the extra frame with eight of its 13 points coming from the free-throw line (8-13 FT).
 
CHATTANOOGA/AUBURN HISTORY
- In the fifth all-time meeting, Chattanooga & Auburn meet for the first time since an 87-75 UTC W inside the Roundhouse on 12/29/91. The series is currently tied 2-2 with each team defending its home court. Previous meetings occurred on 2/16/27 (@UTC 35, AU 31), 1/2/62 (@AU 67, UTC 47), 12/17/62 (@AU 79, UTC 37).
 
CENTURY MARK MILESTONE WATCH
- Head coach Dan Earl sits at 99 career wins in his 9th season as a NCAA Division I HC. Earl posted 73 wins at VMI ('15-22) before earning 18 in his first year at UTC in '22-23.
 
FIRST HALF INEFFICIENCIES, SECOND HALF EFFICIENCIES
- UTC has been outscored 67-49 in the 1H of the last two games while playing to a 92-71 advantage in the 2H (excluding UWM's OT). From 3PT land during that span, the Mocs are a combined 2-28 (0.71%) in the 1H and 18-31 (58.1%) in the 2H. Total FG% sits at 18-65 (27.7%) in the 1H & 32-60 (53.3%) in the 2H. UTC has scored 40+ 2H points in its last six games, tying its longest stretch since 12/30/13-1/16/14.
 
BONHAM'S BACK & PRODUCING AT HIGH RATE
- Due to the current two-time NCAA transfer rule suspension, Florida (& VMI) guard Trey Bonham has made an immediate impact since his first action on 12/16 @AAMU. Bonham is averaging 18.0p, 5.3r, 3.0a & 2.3a through three games & notched Sportscenter's #1 play with a halfcourt, buzzer-beating three to beat Gardner-Webb 69-66 in his home debut on 12/19.
 
NOT MUCH TIME AHEAD
- Aided by the first half struggles, Chattanooga has led for just a combined 1:56 during 85 minutes of action the last two games. In the last two first halves, UTC trailed by 17 against Gardner-Webb & 16 at Milwaukee before using the eraser in the second half. UTC's first lead at UWM on Friday didn't come until 77-76 with 1:33 left in OT.
 
"MAGIC" NUMBERS NOT SO MAGIC ON FRIDAY
- Following Chattanooga's 85-83 OT defeat at Milwaukee on Friday, UTC suffered just its third loss (now 17-3) under coach Dan Earl when scoring 80+ points. It became just the second loss (now 14-2) for UTC under Earl when holding its opponent to less than 40% FG% (24-67, 35.8%) and just the fourth loss (now 19-4) in that same span when out-shooting its opponent in the same FG% category (31-75, 41.3%).

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