Mocs Remain in 1st after Loss to UNCG

CHATTANOOGA—The Chattanooga Mocs dropped their first home game of the season in a 79-64 loss to UNCG Saturday evening. The loss drops UTC to 24-5 overall, 13-3 with a one-game lead in the Southern Conference standings.

Justin Tuoyo led the Mocs with 14 points. Chuck Ester added 12 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Dee Oldham chipped in 12 points and five rebounds off the bench.

R.J. White and Diante Baldwin combined for 48 points to pace the Spartan effort. White’s 26 is a season-high against the Mocs eclipsing Malcolm Hill who tallied 25 in the November win over Illinois. Baldwin turned in 22 with five assists and three steals.

“We didn’t double (White) one time, not one time,” coach Matt McCall stated. “We worked on that yesterday in practice and for some reason, we didn’t do it a single time tonight. That was the difference in the game. You can’t put that guy on an island; he’s too good.

“We had no answer for Diante Baldwin either. We kept blowing pick-and-roll coverages. All we did yesterday was work on doubling the post and pick-and-roll coverage. We did a poor job doing both of those things today.”

After trailing by as many as 18 in the first half, Chattanooga made a charge out of the break. They cut it to four twice. The first coming on two Greg Pryor free throws at 17:52 and again two-plus minutes later on a Tre’ McLean triple from the right side.

It was a six-point affair before a 14-2 Spartans run. Baldwin’s three-point play with 3:17 to go gave the visitors a 72-54 advantage.

Four free throws from Justin Tuoyo, who tied his career high with 10 made in the contest, and a three-pointer from Alex Bran gave the crowd life, but UNCG would not fold. The game drew 5,718 which is the largest crowd for a SoCon team this season.

The Spartans shot 67.4 percent from the field missing just five shots in the second half (17-22, 77.3%). They made seven of 14 (50%) from long range.

On the flip side, the Mocs could not warm up. They miss-fired for a season-low 35.1 percent performance (20-57). That included a six-for-29 night from beyond the arc (20.7%).

“We need to utilize this week of practice to get better,” McCall added. “For them to come in our building and shoot 67% and we give up 79 points. I don’t remember them missing in the second half to be honest with you. We tried man, we tried zone, the only thing we didn’t try to do was double the post, which we should have done all game. We wanted to do that, and we didn’t do it.”

Next up is Senior Day next Saturday against Samford at 5 p.m., in a double-header with the women. It is also Military Appreciation Day with all active and former military as well as local heroes in fire, police and first responders getting in free.