The UTC men’s basketball team returns to the friendly confines of the McKenzie Arena playing the final game before the holiday break as Tennessee Temple (6-8) makes the short trip down the street for a 7 p.m. tip Monday night. Chattanooga (5-6) will be off following the game until the annual Dr Pepper Classic Dec. 29-30.
The Mocs are coming off a 73-62 loss at Murray State on Saturday. It was a hard-fought game for Chattanooga which could not make enough second-half baskets in the 11-point loss.
Chattanooga continues to be hamstrung with injuries. The Mocs have lost 33 man games to injury thus far and will lose two more Monday with Dante Harvey (wrist) and Troy Cage (leg) still out. Sophomore point guard Keegan Bell (virus) was limited to just eight minutes at Murray State.
Ty Patterson has injected instant offense for the Mocs since re-joining the team on Dec. 12. In three contests, he is averaging 18 points and three rebounds per game shooting 50 percent (20-40) from the field and 48.3 percent (14-29) from three-point range averaging making 4.7 treys per contest.
Freshman guard Josh Odem is averaging 11 points on 43.4 percent (43-99) shooting. Forwards Ridge McKeither (10.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg), DeAntre Jefferson (7.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and center Jeremy Saffore (7.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg) need to provide a consistent post presence. Jefferson had 10 points and 11 rebounds at Murray State.
The Dr Pepper Classic features Eastern Kentucky, Long Island and 2009 NCAA Tournament team Morgan State. EKU and Morgan State with play at 6 p.m., on Dec. 29, while the Mocs and LIU square off at 8 p.m.
WHO: Santa Claus. The jolly ole elf is expected to make an appearance to the delight of children young and old on Monday evening. His advance scout Buddy the Elf has been seen in the Roundhouse so the chances are good that Kris Kringle takes some time away from his busy preparations to join the Mocs and Crusaders.
WHAT: Tennessee Temple (6-8) at Chattanooga (5-6)
WHEN: Monday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m. (ET) in the McKenzie Arena (10,928).
WHERE: The game will be broadcast on the Mocs Sports Network with Jim Reynolds calling the play-by-play. It can be listened to locally on ESPN 105.1 FM and worldwide on GoMocs.com. The video stream can be watched at GoMocs.com on Chattanooga All-Access.
HOW: This is the toughest game of the year most seasons for all collegiate teams. The last game before the holiday break takes a great deal of concentration as the mind drifts towards home, presents and family time. Shulman teams are 4-1 with the lone loss coming last year at Alabama (82-63). Since 1977-78, the Mocs are 16-16 in such games, 8-1 in the 2000s.
SERIES: The two campuses are just mere minutes from each other, but the teams have played just seven times according to the Mocs records. Chattanooga holds a 7-0 advantage in the series which had a 25-year gap before last year’s meeting (Nov. 29, 2008), a 108-67 Mocs win.
PROBABLE STARTERS: F –Ty Patterson, Sr. (18.0, 3.0); F – Ridge McKeither, Jr. (10.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg); C – DeAntre Jefferson, Jr. (7.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg); G – Keegan Bell, So. (8.3 ppg,5.7 apg); G – Josh Odem, Fr. (11.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg).