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CHATTANOOGA---1994. That's the last year the Chattanooga Mocs hoisted the regular season Southern Conference Championship. There were eight division crowns in between, but the squad laid claim to a share of its 11th regular season trophy with a 77-66 triumph over Samford.
 
"Obviously there's a lot of work left to do," coach Matt McCall shared. "I wanted them to experience that, they deserve it. These guys have been through a lot.
 
"We've talked about this all the time. Some of these guys are on their third or fourth head coach, and that's not easy to deal with. It would have been easy for all these guys to divide and go their separate ways and not become a team and they didn't do that.
 
"I think it's just a tribute."
 
Eric Robertson celebrated senior day with a team-high 15 points. Four others joined him in double digits with Chuck Ester adding 12, Dee Oldham 11, while Justin Tuoyo and Tre' McLean tallied 10 apiece.
 
The trio of Christen Cunningham, Darius Jones-Gibson and Matt Rose combined for 46 of the Bulldogs 66. Cunningham led all scorers with 17, while Jones-Gibson and Rose had 15 and 14, respectively.
 
It was a 64-61 Mocs advantage with 3:09 to go. McLean drilled two free throws and then hit a contested jumper in the lane at 1:48 to extend the lead to seven.
 
It was Oldham's turn from there. He was fouled after making a steal at 1:29 and nailed both free tosses. He grabbed the rebound after a stop at the other end and was fouled again. Two more free throws and it was an 11-point advantage with 1:08 to go and the final margin to the game.
 
"A guy like Dee Oldham, he was terrific tonight," McCall added. "He had 11 points, five rebounds and four assists on his senior night. He's a guy that, again, in a lot of different places around the country he'd be starting. He'd play 30 minutes a game. He's excited being in the role that he's in. He provides our team with such great energy.
 
"I'm proud of all these guys. I'm happy for them that they experienced it but is still hungry"
 
Chattanooga lead by as many as 14 (33-19) in the first half on Oldham's three-pointer at 4:51. The Bulldogs battled back getting within four before an Ester free throw gave the home squad a five-point advantage at the break, 40-35.
 
That turned out to be the story for the better part of the first 37 minutes. UTC ran out to a lead, Samford clawed back. Johnathan Burroughs-Cook's layup with 12:20 made it a 12-point game, 59-47. The Bulldogs ran off seven unanswered points before Robertson answered with a three at 7:05.
 
In the end, the Mocs always had a response. They shot their best percentage of the season from the free throw line at 85.2 percent including making 17 of 18 in the second 20. The one miss was the last with 27 seconds to go and the game firmly in hand.
 
McLean had his usual all-around impact playing every virtually position on the floor. He had six rebounds, tying for game-high honors, three assists and a career-high-tying four steals. Oldham added five rebounds and four assists.
 
Along with the exceptional night at the line, UTC took full advantage of its +6 turnover margin (10-16). It's 24-6 lead in points off turnovers is especially telling against a full-court pressing team like Samford.
 
The Mocs travel to VMI Monday to close out the regular season. They'll then travel to Asheville, N.C., for the SoCon Championships March 4-7. The top seed faces the winner of Friday's Samford-VMI first round contest.
 
Monday's game airs on ESPN3 online and the Mocs Sports Network through 96.1 the Legend FM in Chattanooga. Check the men's basketball schedule page on GoMocs.com for links to video, audio and live stats. Follow @GoMocsMBB for live tweets.
 
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs.  The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page or on Twitter.  Find out how to join the UTC Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here.
 
ABOUT CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
- The Mocs are by far the most successful program in the Southern Conference since joining the league in 1977-78. The team has won 28 titles with 10 regular season, 10 tournament and eight division.
- 15 NCAA Tournament Appearances: 1961 (DII), 1973 (DII), 1975 (DII), 1976 (DII Runner-up), 1977 (DII National Champs), 1981, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 (Sweet 16), 2005, 2009
- 10 SoCon Tournament Crowns: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2009
- 10 SoCon Regular Season Championships: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
- 8 Division Titles: 1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011
- The 1997 team went to the NCAA Sweet 16 with wins over Georgia and Illinois.
- 5 SoCon Players of the Year: Willie White (1981-82), Keith Nelson (1991-92), Tim Brooks (1992-93), Chad Copeland (1993-94) and Johnny Taylor (1996-97).
- 2 SoCon Defensive Player of the Year: Z. Mason (2014), Justin Tuoyo (2015).
- 3 SoCon Coaches of the Year: Murray Arnold (1982, '83), Mack McCarthy (1986, '92, '93) and Will Wade (2014).
- 9 NBA Draft Picks: Walter "Moose" McGary (1973 & '74), William Gordon (1977), Wayne Golden (1977), Russ Schoene (1982), Nick Morken (1982), Willie White (1984), Gerald Wilkins (1985, 13 seasons) and Johnny Taylor (1997 1st Round).