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Mocs Basketball Preview: Georgia Southern at UTC, Jan. 28, 2012

Mocs Basketball Preview: Georgia Southern at UTC, Jan. 28, 2012

| By: GoMocs.com

2011-12 CHATTANOOGA MOCS BASKETBALL PREVIEW
GEORGIA SOUTHERN (8-12/6-4) at CHATTANOOGA (9-13/3-6)
Game 23 | Jan. 28, 2012 | 7:30 p.m. | McKenzie Arena (10,928)

VIEWING/LISTENING
Listen to "Voice of the Mocs" Jim Reynolds' call on ESPN 105.1 FM in Chattanooga, pregame show begins 30 minutes prior to game time. Live video (subscription) and audio (free) available via MocsVision on GoMocs.com where you can find live stats link as well.

TICKET PROMOTIONS

  • GEORGIA SOUTHERN: Bring 3 canned food items and receive a general admission ticket in support of Chattanooga Area Food Bank.
  • ALL SOCON GAMES: BI-LO is partnering with the Chattanooga Mocs to offer the BI-LO BOGO promotion for SoCon games this season. Just show your BI-LO Bonus Card at the ticket gate on game day for a Mocs SoCon game to buy one ticket and get one free.
  • SOCON SATURDAY GAMES: SoCon Saturday package includes ticket and food for each Saturday league game throughout the season. It includes one reserved ticket and a food voucher for a small coke, popcorn and pizza all for $10. Ticket package must be purchased in advance by calling 266-MOCS (6627) or by visiting the UTC Gate One Ticket Office or online at GoMocs.com using "Saturday" promo code in ADVANCE of game day.
  • ALL GAMES: There is a special code to use in purchasing single game tickets. Fans can buy general admission tickets for just $4 when using the promo code ITSTIME when buying on GoMocs.com and printing the tickets at home. Offer expires 2 hours before tipoff of the game in question.

ABOUT GEORGIA SOUTHERN                                           

  • It's the 47th matchup with Georgia Southern all-time with the Mocs leading 30-16...34 have come in regular season SoCon action (20-14).
  • Eagles Head Coach Charlton Young was associate head coach on Shulman's first staff (2004-05)...helped lead the Mocs to their 9th NCAA Tournament appearance.
  • GSU is 8-12 on the year, 6-4 in the SoCon South...4-1 vs. North Division, 1-1 on the road.
  • The Eagles are SoCon leaders in field goal percentage (46.7).
  • Four players average in double figures led by Eric Ferguson with team highs in points (15.8 ppg) and rebounds (7.0 rpg)...Ben Drayton (11.5), Willie Powers (10.9) and Jelani Hewitt (10.1) help lead the way.
  • In the first meeting this year, Georgia Southern led by as many as 16 before the Mocs rallied late before losing by eight...Ricky Taylor (10) and Lance Stokes (8) combined for 18 points in the final four minutes of the game.

OPENING TIPS

  • Doubleheader with the Lady Mocs taking on UNCG at 5 p.m. The men's contest will begin at 7:30 p.m., or 30 minutes after the women, but not before 7:30.
  • Senior Ricky Taylor (Brownsville, Tenn.) continues to climb the Mocs record book. Last weekend, Taylor moved from 12th place into the top 10 with his 35 points over two games. He is now ninth with 21 points separating him from sixth place. A more detailed account can be found on pages four and nine.
  • The Mocs lead the SoCon in assists (15.5), FG% defense (39.3), 3pt FG% defense (30.2) and defensive rebound percentage (73.7%). Senior captain Keegan Bell (Huntsville, Ala.) leads in assists at 6.7 per contest and assist-turnover ratio (2.3). Senior Omar Wattad (Johnson City, Tenn.) is the leader in 3pt made per game (3.1).
  • Chattanooga is among the nation's leaders in FG% defense (36th), 3pt made per game (29th, 8.2), 3pt FG% defense (34th) and assists (32nd) through Monday's games. Bell is seventh in assists and 48th in assist-to-turnover ratio. Wattad is 12th in 3pt made per game and 47th in 3pt FG% (39.9). Bell is just one of nine (four 6'1" or less) in NCAA DI play to record a triple-double this season (12 pts/10 reb/10 assists at Coll. of Charleston).
  • UTC has limited 11 of 22 opponents to less than 40% FG this season. The school record is 15 in 2004-05.

TRENDING

  • Ricky Taylor is averaging 13.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game over the last 5.
  • UTC has not been beaten on the boards since Tennessee (1/2), a span of seven games.
  • In 9 league contests, the Mocs shoot threes 35.2% of the time compared to 43% in non-conference matchups.
  • UTC's received significant bench contributions in the 6 games surrounding the UNCG game (12-54 deficit). In the other 6, the Mocs hold a 125-42 advantage, a +13.8 scoring margin.

PLAYER NOTES
Keegan Bell (Huntsville, Ala.)

  • Leads the SoCon in assists at 6.7 per game while ranking seventh nationally.
  • Leads SoCon in assist/turnover ratio (2.3)...48th in the country.
  • Made the 2012 Bob Cousy Award Watch List for second straight year...MVP of Dr Pepper Classic.
  • Mocs career assist leader with 489...passed Tim Brooks (1992-93) and Wes Moore (1996-99) on a feed to Ronrico White with 8:12 left in the game at Kentucky.
  • 10th all-time in 3pt FG Made with 146 behind Ricky Taylor (149) who is tied for 8th with Isaac Conner (1996-99), and Omar Wattad (150) in seventh.
  • 3rd in career 3pt FG Attempted with 488...Keddric Mays (2006-07) is second with 516, while Stephen McDowell (2008-09) is first with 611.
  • 733 career points (825 including Vanderbilt numbers - 584 assists combined).
  • Eight career 20-point games...31 games with double digit scoring numbers...has led the team in scoring twice this season, 10 times in his career.
  • 54 career five-plus assist games including 17 this season...10 or more assists nine times, four in 2011-12.
  • Made four or more threes 16 times in two-plus seasons.

Z. Mason (Nashville, Tenn.)

  • SoCon Ranks: 18th in rebounding (5.2).
  • SoCon Ranks (league games only): 5th in reb. (7.6), T6th in defensive reb. (5.3) and 11th in offensive reb (2.2).

Ricky Taylor (Brownsville, Tenn.)

  • Graduated with a degree in accounting on December 17, 2011...then immediately drove to Lexington, Ky., as the Mocs took on Kentucky that evening where he had a career-best five assists.
  • Scored 1,000th career point in win over Longwood on a 3pt bucket...18th UTC student-athlete in the DI era (1977-78) to accomplish it...currently ninth in scoring (1,136)...five behind Alphonso Pugh (2003-06) in eighth with 1,141, 17 shy of Stanford Strickland (1981-84) in seventh at 1,153 and 21 from David Phillips (1997-00) in sixth.
  • SoCon Ranks: 10th in scoring (13.6), 2nd in 3pt% (45.2), 10th in FT% (77.8) and 15th in 3pt made per game (1.7).
  • 12th at UTC in FGM with 379, 16 behind Johnny Taylor (1996-97) with 395...8th in FGA with 907, 12 away from Brandon Born (1992-95) with 919.
  • Tied for 8th all-time in 3pt FG Made at 149 with Conner...one behind Wattad in seventh...7th in 3pt FGA (414), trailing Tim Parker (2000-03) in sixth with 418.
  • Led the Mocs in each of the last two seasons in free throws made (151 total) and leads this year with 70...17th with 229 with Brooks...Gerald Wilkins (1983-85) is 16th with 234.
  • Is 25th in career FT% (75.1), but is fifth among those who have shot 300 or more...18th student-athlete in DI era with 300 or more attempts (305).
  • 64 double-digit scoring nights for his career, 18 in 2011-12...10 career 20-pt games...led team in scoring eight times this season, 25 times in career.

Omar Wattad (Johnson City, Tenn.)

  • Leads SoCon in 3pt FG made per game (3.1) ranking tied for 12th nationally.
  • Other SoCon ranks: 12th in scoring (13.3 ppg) and 9th in 3pt% (39.7) which is 47th-best in nation.
  • Made 100th trey against Warren Wilson...seventh in career treys made with 150...Born is sixth with 159.
  • Scored his 700th career point at Elon...now stands at 722 (798 including Georgetown stats).
  • 25 points at Elon topped his 24 points in season opener at IU...three 20-point efforts in 2011-12, 10 career...35 career double-digit scoring games, 14 in 2011-12.

Drazen Zlovaric (Novi Sad, Serbia)

  • SoCon Ranks: 6th in rebounding (6.8), 3rd in defensive boards (5.4) and 8th in FG% (51.6).
  • Game-high 10 boards in 1st collegiate action in more than a year at Indiana.
  • 13 double-figure scoring nights...7 or more rebounds in 13 of 22 games...five double-digit rebounding games with three double-doubles.

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