The Chattanooga Mocs welcome Middle Tennessee to the Roundhouse for the final non-conference matchup of the 2021-22 slate.
CHATTANOOGA — The Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball team looks to snap a two-game skid in its last non-conference game of the season Wednesday night inside McKenzie Arena against in-state foe Middle Tennessee. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET.
Chattanooga (9-3) is coming off a pair of road losses to two top-10 Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 squads in Belmont (7) and Murray State (10). The Mocs, who previously held the No. 8 ranking, fell seven spots in the latest poll to No. 15 ahead of Wednesday’s game. Malachi Smith scored a career-high 36 points on Saturday at MSU and was named the Southern Conference Player of the Week on Monday.
MTSU (9-3) enters the matchup following a hard-fought 84-80 win over Coastal Carolina on its home court Sunday night. UTC defeated the Blue Raiders 80-70 on December 7, 2020 last year in Murfreesboro in the first meeting between the two teams since 2014.
The upcoming game at Murray State can be streamed on ESPN+ through the Watch ESPN platform or fans can listen on WFLI 97.7 FM/1070 AM in Chattanooga as well as on GoMocs.com and the Varsity Network app.
GAME BASICS
▪ Chattanooga (9-3, 0-0) vs. MTSU (9-3, 0-0)
▪ 7:00 p.m. ET | McKenzie Arena (10,955) | Chattanooga, Tenn.
▪ WATCH (ESPN+) | LISTEN (WFLI 97.7FM/1050AM) | STATS
▪ BUY TICKETS* | STUDENT TICKETS
*Special alumni tickets can be purchased for $8 with seats located in the student section. Use promo code: UTCALUMNI before checkout.
GAME NOTES
Chattanooga | MTSU | SoCon
SERIES HISTORY – 67th Meeting
All-Time: 34-32 – Chattanooga
Last: 80-70, Chattanooga – Dec. 7, 2020 (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
Home: 22-9 – Chattanooga
Away: 23-10 – MTSU
Neutral: 2-0 – Chattanooga
TIP-OFF
– Chattanooga enters the game with an 9-3 record… coming off an 87-76 loss on Saturday at Murray State… second-straight defeat to a top 10 Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 teams… UTC entered at No. 8 while Murray State claimed the No. 10 slot.
– Chattanooga claimed an 80-70 win over MTSU last season on the road on December 7, 2020… that matchup was the first between the two teams since 2014… UTC has won five of the last seven meetings between the two teams in McKenzie Arena.
– Middle Tennessee enters the game coming off an 84-80 home win over Coastal Carolina on Sunday… the Blue Raiders defeated SoCon-member Mercer 82-58 on November 24 in Cancun… lost 93-87 at common opponent Murray State on December 4.
BY THE NUMBERS
– Malachi Smith scored a career-high 36 points in Saturday’s loss at Murray State… has posted five-straight 27+ scoring games against DI competition (all on the road)… 28 at Tennessee Tech (11/30)… 27 at Lipscomb (12/5)… 28 at UNC Asheville (12/8)… 27 at Belmont (12/15)… 36 at Murray State… has scored 20+ in eight-straight road games… a DI era school record.
– After scoring 36 on Wednesday, Smith clinched the 7th straight game for the Mocs with a 20pt scorer… Smith (5x) & Silvio De Sousa (2x)… last time with seven straight games of at least one 20pt scorer? Jan. 10-Feb. 16, 2004 (10 games): Ashley Champion (6x), Jason Rogan (5x), Chris Brown (1x) & Alphonso Pugh (1x).
– David Jean-Baptiste ranks 8th all-time in program history in scoring (1,444 points)… five points shy of tying the trio of Gerald Wilkins (83-85), Brandon Born (91-95) and Walter McGary (72-74) for 5th (1,449)… averaging 11.1ppg (131gms) for his career.
– David Jean-Baptiste is 2nd all-time in program history with 235 career 3PT FG made… 8 away from tying Stephen McDowell (2008-09) for 1st with 243… had his 33-straight 3pt FG made streak snapped in win at UNC Asheville.
FAN INFORMATION & COVID-19 GUIDELINES
Masks are no longer required for fans inside McKenzie, however, the use of masks is encouraged. McKenzie Arena and parking services will operate on a CASHLESS basis for the 2021-22 season. Ticket purchases at the box office will still accept cash. Will Call will be located at Gate 1.
CLEAR BAG POLICY
In an effort to enhance spectator safety and align with national best-practices, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Athletics Department has a clear bag policy for home games in all of its athletics facilities.
Fans are allowed to bring in one plastic, vinyl or PVC clear bag that does not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″ to home games.
Other items on the approved list include:
– Storage Bag: One Gallon re-sealable clear plastic freezer bag.
– Small Clutch Purse: No larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″ with or without a handle or strap.
– Seat Cushion or Bleacher Chair: No larger than 16″ and no pockets.
– Small Diaper Bag: Must be accompanied by a child.
Prohibited items include:
– Large Purse
– Large Tote
– Non-Clear/Printed Tote
– Duffel Bag
– Drawstring Bag
– Backpack
– Fanny Pack
– Camera Bag
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