CHARLESTON, S.C.---The Chattanooga Mocs closed the regular season slate with an 85-76 loss at The Citadel despite a 24-point performance from Justin Tuoyo. That total tied a career high for the senior big man from Fayetteville, Ga.
Makale Foreman got the Mocs within four, 72-68, with just under seven minutes to play.
Preston Parks, who scored 22 for the Bulldogs, answered with a triple of his own 16 second later. Turnovers on back-to-back possessions fueled a quick 7-0 spurt for the home squad. The Mocs got no closer than six the rest of the way.
Casey Jones had a double-double for UTC with 10 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Foreman and Peyton Woods each had 12 points off the bench.
Parks led four in double figures for the home team. Ezekiel Balogun added 18 points and nine rebounds, as Zane Najdawi and Warren Sledge chipped in 13 and 12, respectively.
The Mocs dished out a season-high 22 assists led by Rodney Chatman’s seven. Chatman also had seven rebounds as the visitors out-boarded their hosts 41-35.
Chattanooga sets its sights on the Southern Conference Championships this weekend in Asheville. It faces Wofford in the quarterfinals at 2:30 p.m., in the U.S. Cellular Center. UNCG (1 seed), Western Carolina (8) and The Citadel (9) are also in the Mocs half of the bracket.
RECORDS
Chattanooga – 19-11, 10-8 in the SoCon. The Citadel – 11-20, 4-14 in league play.
STAT OF THE GAME
Chattanooga’s 12 3pt made is a season high against a DI opponent. The squad made a school-record 17 vs. Hiwassee in November. Click the stats link above for a complete look at today’s statistics.
QUOTABLE
"I have been learning from Greg Pryor the whole year. He is a great guy who is always focused, and he is always working hard. I try to learn everything I can from him before he is gone." – Freshman Rodney Chatman on getting the start at point guard for injured senior Greg Pryor. For more thoughts from coach and student-athletes, click the quotes link above.
NOTABLE
Justin Tuoyo passed former teammate Ronrico White (2012-15) into 16th-place on the DI era scoring list. He’s the 17th student-athlete over the past 40 years to do it. For further breakdown on stats and facts from today’s game, click notes link above.
SOCON SCOREBOARD
at UNCG 72, ETSU 66
at Mercer 88, Samford 79
at Western Carolina 81, VMI 68
NEXT UP
Saturday, March 4 vs. Wofford in the SoCon Tourney in Asheville. The contest starts at 2:30 p.m., airing on the WatchESPN app (ESPN3) as well as locally on the airwaves on Real 96.1 FM in Chattanooga.