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Mocs Basketball Preview: Tuesday vs. Spalding

Mocs Basketball Preview: Tuesday vs. Spalding

| By: GoMocs.com

2011-12 CHATTANOOGA MOCS BASKETBALL PREVIEW
SPALDING (1-6) AT CHATTANOOGA (2-7)
Game 10 | Dec. 13, 2011 | 7 p.m. | McKenzie Arena (10,928)

VIEWING OR LISTENING
The game is available on GoMocs.com via MocsVision. There is video (subscription) and audio (free) available.

TICKETS
There is a special code to use in purchasing single game tickets at home.  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 SPALDING

  • 1st meeting with Spalding...it is based in Louisville, Ky., and competes in the SLIAC (St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletics Conference) as an NCAA DIII affiliate.
  • The Golden Eagles are coached by Mocs Hall of Famer Kevin Gray...see note on page 2 for more info on Gray.
  • Former Louisville Cardinals center and NBA player Felton Spencer is on the coaching staff at Spalding.
  • The Golden Eagles are 1-6 to date...lost 87-43 at Coastal Carolina on Nov. 18...tonight is first road game since the trip to CCU.
  • Jametrius Brasher (Jr. F) leads Spalding averaging 13.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 51.5 percent from the floor.

OPENING TIPS

  • Chattanooga gets a brief respite from life on the road hosting Spalding. This is the fourth contest in four-in-five games away from the friendly confines of McKenzie Arena. The Mocs head to Kentucky this Saturday the 17th.
  • The Mocs finished classes on Friday, December 9. Spring semester classes begin on Monday, January 9.
  • First meeting with Spalding. For series notes, see page nine.
  • Spalding Head Coach Kevin Gray played from 1973-76 for the Mocs helping guide the team to an 82-32 mark over his four seasons and a national runner-up finish in 1976. He scored 1385 points in his career averaging 12.4 points per game. A sharpshooter, Gray made 51.3 percent of his field goal attempts and 80.6 percent from the free throw line. He was an assistant coach for eight seasons under Ron Shumate and Murray Arnold from 1977-84.
  • The Mocs lead the SoCon in steals (8.5/game) led by junior captain Dontay Hampton (Chattanooga, Tenn.) in fifth individually at 1.7 per game. Senior captain Keegan Bell (Huntsville, Ala.) leads the league in assists at 7.0 per contest ranking ninth nationally. For UTC team ranking and SoCon leaders see page five. Individual ranks are in the player notes on page four.
  • UTC has out-rebounded one DI opponent in 2011-12...Indiana by nine in the season opener. The Mocs are 93-46 all-time under Shulman when winning the battle on the glass.
  • The Mocs are shooting 43.2 percent (103-303) inside the 3pt arc.

TRENDING

  • Mocs allow opponents to shoot just 41.5% on season holding 4 under 40%.
  • Omar Wattad scored 15 of his game-high 20 in 1st half at Mercer.
  • Ricky Taylor has scored in double digits in 4 straight (15.0 ppg). During last 4 games, he is shooting 45.0% (18-40) from field, 50.0% (5-10) from 3pt range and 93.3% (14-15) from FT line while averaging 4.8 rpg. In the first 5, he had 9.8 ppg and 2.0 rpg shooting 41.7% (15-36) from the floor, 41.2% (7-17) on 3pt and 75.0% (12-16) from the line.
  • Keegan Bell has had 5 or more assists in all 9 games this season with 8 or more 3 times.
  • Chris Early averaged 4.7 rebounds per contest over the 1st 6, 8.3 over the last 3 with 10 last time out at Mercer.

PLAYER NOTES
Keegan Bell (Huntsville, Ala.)

  • Leads the SoCon in assists at 7.0 per game while ranking ninth nationally.
  • 2nd in SoCon in assist/turnover ratio (2.1).
  • Was on the 2011 Bob Cousy Award Watch List and made All-SoCon 2nd Team (Media).
  • His 404 career assists is 3rd all-time at UTC...needs 11 to break the record of 414 held by Tim Brooks (1992-93) and Wes Moore (1996-99) with 414.
  • 11th all-time in 3pt FG Made with 122 one behind former teammate Ty Patterson (2009-10) in 10th with 123...Ricky Taylor is tied for eighth with John Oliver (1994-96) with 128.
  • 7th in career 3pt FG Attempted with 400...Toot Young (2001-02) is sixth at 402, while Tim Parker (2000-03) is fifth with 418.
  • 631 career points (723 including Vanderbilt numbers - 499 assists combined).
  • Eight career 20-point games...27 games with double digit scoring numbers...has led the team in scoring twice this season, 10 times in his career.
  • 46 career five-plus assist games including all nine this season.
  • Made four or more threes 14 times in two-plus seasons.

Chris Early (Huntington, W.Va.)

  • Topped 500 points for his career in the win over Savannah State...537 total.
  • 379 career rebounds...looking to become 10th UTC player in DI era with 500.
  • SoCon Ranks: 2nd in 3pt% (52.6), 13th in rebounding (5.9) and 8th in defensive boards (4.7).

Ricky Taylor (Brownsville, Tenn.)

  • 55 points shy of 1,000 for his career with 945...would be the 18th UTC student-athlete in the DI era (1977-78) to accomplish the milestone...currently 21st all-time in scoring, one behind Benny Green (1988-89) in 20th with 946 and 25 shy of Brooks in 19th with 970.
  • SoCon Ranks: 17th in scoring (12.1), 4th in FT% (83.9), 5th in 3pt% (45.9) and 13th in 3pt made/game (1.9).
  • Ranks 24th all-time at UTC in FGM with 316, two behind Casey Long (2004-07) in 23rd with 318 and 11 short of Brooks in 22nd with 327...tied for 18th in FGA with James Hunter (1984-87) at 768, 10 shy of Daren Chandler (1989-90) in 17th with 778.
  • 8th all-time in 3pt FG Made at 128 which is 21 short of Isaac Conner (1996-99) in seventh with 149...9th in 3pt FGA (363), trailing Long (380) in eighth and Bell (400) in seventh.
  • Led the Mocs in each of the last two seasons in free throws made (151 total) and leads this year with 26 thus far...24th all-time with 185 made closing in on Morris Lyons (1987-88) in 23rd at 187, Maurio Hanson (1994-95) in 22nd at 188 and Maurice Head (1984-87) is 21st with 189.
  • 52 double-digit scoring nights for his career, seven in 2011-12...nine career 20-pt games...led team in scoring four times this season, 21 times in career.

Omar Wattad (Johnson City, Tenn.)

  • SoCon Ranks: 16th in scoring (12.2 ppg) and 2nd in 3pt FG made per game (2.7).
  • Made his 100th three-pointer against Warren Wilson...16th in career treys made with 112, four behind Hanson in 15th with 116.
  • Scored his 500th career point against Kennesaw State...now stands at 566 (642 including Georgetown stats).
  • 24 points is season in loss at IU...two 20-pt efforts in 2011-12, nine career...28 career double-digit scoring games, six in 2011-12.

Drazen Zlovaric (Novi Sad, Serbia)

  • SoCon Ranks: 8th in rebounding (6.6/game), T5th on the defensive boards (5.1/game) and 11th in FG% (48.6).
  • Game-high 10 boards in 1st collegiate action in more than a year at Indiana after sitting out the 2010-11 season due to transferring from Georgia.
  • 7 or more rebounds in six of nine games.

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