2024-25 Chattanooga Mocs Men's Basketball
Game 5 – SEMO – November 17, 2024
Show Me Center – Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Postgame Notes & Quotes
 
GENERAL NOTES
Game Duration: 2:03
Attendance: 580
Officials: Steve Divine, Dillon Brasher, Alex Manuel
 
TEAM NOTES
- Chattanooga improved to 2-3 on the season and earned its first road win with a hard-fought 87-82 victory at SEMO on Sunday afternoon inside the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri… SEMO falls to 1-3… first-ever game for UTC inside the SMC.
 
- All-time program record 1,428-1,147… 880-577 in Division I era (since 1977-78).
 
- Chattanooga posted an efficient 48.3% (28-58) total from the floor… shot 34.6% (9-26) from deep… back-to-back games with nine 3PTM… held SEMO to a 36.8% (14-38) FG clip in the second half including a 3-16 (18.8%) mark from three.
 
- UTC outscored the Redhawks by a whopping 39-6 margin in points off the bench… the Mocs led the contest for 33:23 while SEMO led for just 2:59… eight ties and six lead changes throughout the game.
 
- The Mocs earned a 38-31 advantage in rebounds… went +7 (31-24) in defensive rebounds as both teams collected seven offensive rebounds… 7-4 advantage for UTC in second-chance points.
 
- Chattanooga shot 71.0% (22-31) from the free-throw line after drawing a season-high 24 fouls from the Redhawks… season-high FTA (31)… most in a non-overtime game since 31 against Samford in the SoCon quarterfinals on March 4, 2023.
 
- Chattanooga and SEMO were tied 45-45 at the break after a fast-paced first half… UTC shot 53.3% (16-30) while SEMO shot 59.4% (19-32)… Mocs knocked down seven threes in the half… UTC has yet to lead at halftime this season.
 
- Streak of 5+ 3PT FGs extends to 73-straight games… began at 2022-23 season opener… every game under Dan Earl… second-longest active streak (Oral Roberts, 130)… 18th longest streak all-time in DI.
 
- Chattanooga is the only team in the Southern Conference to begin the 2024-25 season with five-straight games against DI opponents.
 
PLAYER NOTES
- Trey Bonham 110^th career game between VMI, Florida and Chattanooga… finished with 13 points to tie a season-high… grabbed six rebounds and added a steal.
 
- Noah Melson finished with a team-high 15 points in 20 minutes off the bench… shot 5-9 FG (4-7 3PT)… added five rebounds… most points scored against DI opponent… career-high 16 came against TN Wesleyan last year.
 
- Jack Kostel finished with four rebounds… surpassed 400 in his collegiate career between Alabama-Huntsville (DII) and UTC… added seven points and two assists in 14 minutes.
 
- Bash Wieland 90^th career game played between Bellarmine and Chattanooga… reached double figures with 12… grabbed eight rebounds… one shy of career high of nine.
 
- Sean Cusano finished with a career-high 14 points in 16 minutes off the bench… went perfect from the field… 5-5 FG… 2-2 3PT… second career game hitting two 3PTM.

SERIES HISTORY

All-Time	Record	Pct.
Overall (4th)	2-2	.500
at Chattanooga	1-1	.500
at SEMO	1-0	1.000
Neutral	0-1	.000

 
COACHING RECORDS/NOTES

Dan Earl (PSU '97)	Record	Pct.
Overall (10th)	114-171	.393
at UTC (3rd)	41-32	.558
vs. SEMO	2-0	1.000

 
*Of note: Dan Earl's 285^th career game as head coach between VMI/Chattanooga

POSTGAME QUOTES
Dan Earl, Head Coach
Overall thoughts after 87-82 win at SEMO.
"I thought today was a total team effort across the board. Credit to SEMO, they play extremely hard and really try to out physical you. I thought we did a well enough job in matching that effort to win obviously, but there's still some areas we need to improve. What stood out today was that we did a really good job at getting to the rim, getting downhill, and getting fouled. Sure, we could have made a few more free throws down the stretch to make things a little less stressful, but when you get to the free-throw line 31 times, it speaks to aggression. Overall, I'm proud of the guys for really earning that win today. It's never easy on the road."
 
On who impacted the game.
"I thought Jack Kostel was an absolute man today. You look at only 13 minutes, but the way he impacted the game is something that won't necessarily show up in the stat sheet. He was in nearly every play I felt like and came away with key rebounds, loose balls, all the little things that matter, especially in tight games like this. Him, along with Garrison Keeslar, I thought were extremely beneficial to the entire team's effort and really impacted the game in a positive and winning manner."
 
On the bench production & its 39 points.
"Absolutely. Any time you can get that production from your bench, it's a lift to everyone and makes things harder on your opponent. You can easily look at someone like Noah [Melson], who played with great confidence today and it was noticeable. It's a little easier when shots are falling, but his impact was crucial and important. I thought Makai [Richards] and obviously Sean [Cusano] also came up big when called upon. It's these kinds of total team efforts, from all of the guys, to really tap into your potential and find out who you are as a whole. Again, super proud of them and we'll continue to work and improve moving forward."
 
Noah Melson, So.-G
On what worked tonight.
"My teammates really put me in great positions to make plays and find open shots. We've been working a lot together to move the ball and create for others. We know when we share the ball, create for each other, pay attention to detail, it really makes the offense click."
 
On shots falling.
"It felt great. Like I said, shoutout to my teammates for putting me in great spots. As a shooter, you know some days they might all fall, some days none will fall, but you just have to stick with it and never lose that confidence. I'm excited about getting our first road win and getting back home for a few weeks."