Today at 5 p.m. in McKenzie Arena, the Chattanooga Mocs and ETSU meet for the 82nd meeting in a long series full of memorable moments. As the Southern Conference became accustomed to over the past 40 years, this one means a lot to the top of the standings.
Furman leads the league at 13-2 followed by the Bucs at 11-3 with the Mocs and UNCG hot on their trail at 10-4. The Paladins host UNCG at 4 p.m.today as the top four teams are in action against each other.
ETSU held off Chattanooga in the first meeting, 76-71.
Since the Bucs returned to the SoCon in 2014, the Mocs captured five of the six meetings. Saturday’s game promises to be yet another classic in the rivalries history.
Since Chattanooga joined the SoCon in 1977, the two schools own 14 regular season titles (UTC-11/ETSU-3), 12 division crowns (UTC-8/ETSU-4) and 16 tourney championships (UTC-11/ETSU-5). More than 40 percent of the league’s NCAA appearances in the last 39 years have gone to either the Mocs or Bucs.
A trio of double figure scorers leads the Mocs into McKenzie Arena. Tre’ McLean (14.0 ppg), Justin Tuoyo (13.3) and Greg Pryor (12.3) pace the home squad with McLean (19) and Pryor (16) accounting for 35 of the Mocs’ 74 points in Wednesday’s win at VMI.
T.J. Cromer is the Bucs leading scorer at 18.6 points per contest. Desonta Bradford adds 10.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, while Tevin Glass is the top rebounder at 5.9 per contest. Glass had 14 points and 12 boards in the first meeting.
Honoring the Mocs Past: The 1977 NCAA Division II National Champion Mocs will be honored at halftime. Coach Ron Shumate is bringing back greats Wayne Golden, William Gordon, Gary Stitch, Darrell Payne, Darryl Yarbrough, Kevin Galbraith and Herbert “Book” McCray along with athletic trainer Danny Adams and managers Ronnie Swafford and George Moody.
Tickets are available at the box office and by phone at 266-MOCS (6627). Fans can avoid the ticket and will call lines by purchasing online and printing at home here. General admission seats are just $5 and kids wearing their youth league jersey are admitted free with a paying adult.
The game airs on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app. It broadcasts over the airwaves on Real 96.1 FM in Chattanooga and worldwide via GoMocs.com as well as the iHeart Radio and TuneIn apps.