Mocs Hoping For Better Fate Against Ranked Opponent as They Prepare For 21st Ranked Auburn
(gomocs.com) Back on the national stage, the Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball team will battle No. 21 Auburn on Saturday afternoon in a neutral site matchup inside State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga., as part of the sixth annual Holiday Hoopsgiving event, presented by The Halal Guys.
Tip-off is set for 4:30 p.m. (ET) and will be nationally televised on SEC Network. Chattanooga and Auburn will be the second of two games within the Hoopsgiving event as Georgia and Cincinnati are set to kick off the event with a 2 p.m. (ET) tip on ESPNU inside State Farm Arena.
Chattanooga (5-5) is facing its first AP ranked opponent in the Dan Earl era and first since the narrow 54-53 defeat to No. 19 Illinois in the 2022 NCAA Tournament first round. The Mocs are 2-3 all-time against Auburn (7-3) with the last meeting coming back on December 30, 2023, inside the Tiger’s Neville Arena.
GAME DETAILS
Chattanooga (5-5) vs. No. 21 Auburn (7-3)
Date: Sat., Dec. 13 ∙ Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Site: Atlanta, Ga. (State Farm Arena)
TV: SEC Network (PxP: Davel Neal; Analyst: Mark Wise)
Radio: Mocs Sports Network (WFLI) (PxP: Jim Reynolds)
Follow: Live Stats ∙ @GoMocsMBB on X/Twitter
SERIES HISTORY
Auburn: 6th Meeting ∙ Record: 2-3 ∙ H: 2-0; A: 0-3; N: 0-0 ∙ Last: L, 66-101 (12/30/23 – @AU)
GAME NOTES
Chattanooga ∙ Auburn
GAME HEADLINES
Mocs Snap Skid, Defeats Oakwood (AL) on Tuesday
∙ Chattanooga (5-5) snapped a small two-game slide with a 103-46 win over Oakwood (AL) of the NAIA on Tuesday… four of the five wins have come at home this season… lone road win at SC State (W, 78-66 – 11/19).
Chattanooga’s Recent History Against Ranked Opponents
∙ Chattanooga is 0-23 against ranked opponents over the past 20+ seasons (since 04-05)… first ranked opponent in the Dan Earl era will come on Saturday against #21 Auburn.
∙ Chattanooga’s last ranked opponent?… #19 Illinois in the 2022 NCAA Tournament first round (L, 53-54)… last ranked win?… ironically… #19 Illinois in the 1997 NCAA Tournament second round (W, 75-63) to earn a Sweet 16 berth.
Chattanooga Against SEC Competition
∙ Chattanooga is 12-39 against SEC members since 1980-81… lost its last six SEC matchups… 18 of its last 20.
∙ Last win against the SEC?… at Tennessee (W, 82-69) on 11/11/16… second of two-straight wins… the other?… at Georgia (W, 92-90 OT) on 11/13/15.
Battled-Tested No. 21 Auburn Aims to Bounce Back
∙ Auburn dropped a 97-68 road contest at No. 2 Arizona in Tucson last Saturday… the defeat followed consecutive wins over NC State (W, 83-73) on December 3 and No. 14 St. John’s (W, 85-74) on November 26.
∙ Auburn has already faced four ranked opponents over its first 10 games of the season… has faced both the then-No.1 and then-No. 2 teams (last time out against Arizona) in the country… fell 73-72 to No. 1 Houston in The Battleground 2K25 event in Birmingham on November 16.
Champions Galore on Non-Conference Schedule
∙ Chattanooga will face five teams in its non-conference schedule this season who won (or shared) their respective league’s regular season title in 2024-25… Saint Mary’s (CA) (West Coast), South Carolina State (MEAC), North Alabama (ASUN), SEMO (OVC) and Auburn (SEC).
Let the Deep Ball Fly
∙ Chattanooga fired off 49 three-point attempts during Tuesday’s win over Oakwood (AL)… second-most 3FGA this season… school record 50 3FGA in season-opening win over Union (11/3).
∙ Chattanooga has averaged 32.4 3FGA per game this season… 15th most in NCAA DI (as of 12/10)… 11.7 made threes per game ranks 10th in DI.
