chattanooga MOCS

Men's Basketball has a Rich Tradition in the McKenzie Arena
The first game in the Roundhouse was a visit from the Tennessee Vols men's basketball team on Dec. 1, 1982. A sellout crowd of 11,218 was on hand out to watch the Vols defeat the Mocs 56-49. The game turned out to be a showdown of two future NBA players. Tennessee's Dale Ellis led the Vols with 17 points, while UTC's Gerald Wilkins paced his squad with a game-high 20.

The Mocs enter the 2022-23 season having compiled an overall record of 465-138 in home games at the Arena, a winning percentage of .771. Throughout its history, McKenzie Arena has seen crowds average around the 5,000-range. Chattanooga topped the 10,000-mark 11 times, including a sellout of 11,221 against Tennessee on Dec. 4, 2007.

Defending National Champion North Carolina also visited the arena during the inaugural 1982-83 season. The Tar Heels, which boasted such players as Brad Daugherty, Sam Perkins and a sophomore named Michael Jordan, managed a seven-point victory, 73-66. UTC's Willie White, who would also go on to play professionally, netted 26 points. Jordan finished with 27.

The arena has had many other future NBA stars on its court, including current NBA players Stephen Curry (Davidson), Derrick Favors (Georgia Tech) and Jason Smith (Colorado State). The NBA's Atlanta Hawks held their mini-camp in the arena for two summers.

10,000 Men's Basketball Crowds at The McKenzie Arena

Women's Basketball Dominance in the McKenzie Arena
The first game for the Mocs in McKenzie Arena was an 74-66 win over Tennessee Tech on December 3, 1983. Overall, UTC has posted an amazing 269-75 (.782) record in the Roundhouse with seven undefeated seasons in its friendly confines. Even more impressive is the .854 winning percentage (182-31) posted by the Mocs during the 15 years of the Wes Moore era. 

Chattanooga women's basketball started playing all of its home games in the arena in the 1999-2000 season. Since then they have had crowds of 4,000 11 times, including a school-record 10,051 against Tennessee on Nov. 19, 2004. UTC has played host to such women's basketball powerhouses as UConn, Stanford, Georgia, Louisville, the Lady Vols, NC State and Vanderbilt. Kentucky, Rutgers and Harvard have also played on the hardwood of the Roundhouse.

The Mocs have led the Southern Conference in average home attendance each year since moving to the McKenzie Arena. In 2017-18, they averaged 3,027 fans per game, and ranked 36th in the nation.

The McKenzie Arena has twice hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. The Lady Mocs knocked off Rutgers in the first round of the 2004 tournament on their home floor. Over 6,000 fans saw one of the biggest wins in school history and Chattanooga also served as a host site for the 2009 tournament.

4,000 Women's Basketball Crowds at the McKenzie Arena