The Chattanooga Mocs had a hard time finding the bottom of the net in a 63-42 loss to Southeast Missouri in the Goldie & Herman Ungar Classic. The Mocs were limited to less than 30 percent shooting for the second consecutive night at the Mitchell Center.
Jerry Johnson, Jr., led Chattanooga with 12 points. Jonathan Dalton and Ledarrius Brewer pace the Redhawks with 15 and 11 points, respectively.
It was a one-point game with 3:35 left in the first half. Donovann Toatley’s jumper cut the SEMO lead to 18-17.
The Mocs went without another field goal over the next 11:25 until Maurice Commander’s three ended a 19-1 run with good guys trailing 37-21.
Chattanooga could not consistently get the ball in the basket. SEMO’s lead swelled to as many as 27 before a flurry to finish the game. Johnson and Kevin Easley three-pointers book-ended Jonathan Scott scoring on the block in the final minute of the game.
Even with the struggles making shots, there was a good sign with the amount of open, good looks at the basket.
“We did do some good things,” Coach Lamont Paris said. “Jerry Johnson did a really good job of creating good looks for guys throughout the game. He hand-delivered good shots, we just didn’t make them. Obviously, it was not a good offensive performance looking at the numbers.
“If you dig beyond the numbers, there were a couple of good things (to build on).”
The Mocs play the final of a three-games-in-three-day set Sunday against Jacksonville. Game time at the Mitchell Center is 4:05 p.m., Eastern time.