STATS | NOTES | QUOTES
 
MACON, Ga.---Senior Justin Tuoyo came up with a huge blocked shot with less than 10 seconds to play in the Chattanooga Mocs 70-68 Southern Conference win at Mercer. The win keeps the Mocs in a tie atop the SoCon standings with UNCG at 5-1.
 
Tre' McLean sank two crucial free throws with 14.6 to play to make it a three-point game, 69-66. Mercer brought the ball up the floor. Leading scorer Ria'n Holland came off a pick and pulled up with 2-time SoCon Defensive Player of the Year Justin Tuoyo switching on the coverage. That nation's second-leading shot blocker got his second of the game, while Rodney Chatman grabbed the rebound.
 
The freshman was quickly fouled with just 8.5 seconds left. He missed the first but calmly sank the second for a four-point advantage. Stephen Jelks scored a layup as time expired for the final tally.
 
McLean's 15 points paced the Mocs this afternoon. Johnathan Burroughs-Cook and Casey Jones each posted 10. Holland had a game-high 22 with Desmond Ringer chipping in 10 for the Bears.
 
It was a three-point lead, 67-64, with the ball and just over a minute to go. Burroughs-Cook extended a possession with a huge rebound after a missed three by Greg Pryor. He would later miss a layup, but that gave the home squad just 35 seconds left to find a way to win.
 
After two Ringer free throws, McLean had a hard time in-bounding the ball with 20.6 remaining. McLean called timeout. On the next try, there was a scramble for the ball with Mercer receiving the call in front of their bench. The officials reviewed and determined the Bears were the last to touch it.
 
Pryor got the ball on a terrific catch, returning it to McLean who was fouled as the clock moved past 15 seconds. His two free throws set up Tuoyo and Chatman's heroics.
 
RECORDS
Chattanooga – 14-4, 5-1 in the SoCon. Mercer – 8-11, 2-4 in league play.
 
STAT OF THE GAME
11.8 percent 3pt shooting for the Bears making just two of 17. They entered averaging 8.5 made per contest. Click the stats link above for a complete look at today's statistics.
 
QUOTABLE
"He did it again for us. He is our defensive anchor on this team. He came up with the huge block. He told us all game that he has us and keep pressuring them and making it tough on them to score points." – Senior Tre' McLean on Justin Tuoyo's key block late in the game. For more thoughts from coach and student-athletes, click the quotes link above.
 
NOTABLE
Justin Tuoyo's two blocks give his eight straight multi-block games, none bigger than the second. For further breakdown on stats and facts from today's game, click notes link above.
 
SOCON SCOREBOARD
UNCG 91, at VMI 82
Samford 98, at The Citadel 90
at ETSU 75, Western Carolina 52
Furman at Wofford, 7 p.m.
 
NEXT UP
Saturday, Jan. 21 vs. Samford. Tipoff is at 5 p.m., airing on the WatchESPN app (ESPN3) as well as locally on the airwaves on Real 96.1 FM in Chattanooga. It's a doubleheader with the women's team opening at 2 p.m. For a fantastic ticket plan for the four DHs this season, click here. Links to live stats, video and audio (Mocs Sports Network) are on GoMocs.com's men's basketball schedule page.
 
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Buy officially licensed gear in our online store. 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 30 titles with 11 regular season, 11 tournament and eight division.
- 16 NCAA Tournament Appearances (11 DI): 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, 2016
- 11 SoCon Tournament Crowns: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2009, 2016
- 11 SoCon Regular Season Championships: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2016
- 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).
- 3 SoCon Defensive Players of the Year: Z. Mason (2014), Justin Tuoyo (2015, 2016).
- 4 SoCon Coaches of the Year: Murray Arnold (1982, '83), Mack McCarthy (1986, '92, '93), Will Wade (2014) and Matt McCall (2016).
- 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).