NOTES | QUOTES
MOREHEAD, Ky. (Dec. 3, 2023) – The Chattanooga Mocs men’s basketball team surrendered 47 second-half points on 72.0% (18-of-25) shooting and ultimately dropped an 87-80 decision at Ohio Valley Conference favorite Morehead State on Sunday evening inside Johnson Arena in Morehead, Ky.
Following the loss, Chattanooga has now dropped three of the last four and moves to 5-3 on the season. Morehead State improves to 6-3 on the year with all three losses coming to Power 5 opponents.
A late first-half rally saw the Mocs enter halftime down just four, 40-36, behind a 7-of-15 (46.7%) performance from three in the opening 20. But MSU was dominant in the second half, going 15-of-17 (88.2%) from inside the arc while averaging 1.5 points per possession on 32 opportunities.
“We talked to the team about it being a ‘grown man’s game’, and it was every bit of that. Credit to Morehead. They just drove us downhill, gave it to us, finished at the rim, it was upsetting,” said head coach Dan Earl after the game.
“We have to take more pride in keeping the ball in front of us.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams used the first four-plus minutes to feel each other out as things started slow, playing to a 4-4 tie at the under 16 media (15:04). Morehead State opened a five-point lead, 14-9 (11:14), on its second three of the game as UTC started just 3-of-12 (25.0%) from the floor on its offensive side of the floor.
The threes continued to fall for the Eagles over the next few minutes as the lead grew to nine, 22-13, with 9:01 left in the opening half. MSU started the contest 4-of-10 (40.0%) from the three during the early scoring span.
Morehead State continued to control much of the first half as they built a 12-point advantage, 34-22 (3:59), forcing six turnovers and outscoring the Mocs 12-0 in second-chance points in the process. Chattanooga would end the half on a 14-6 run from that point, fueled by four threes from four different players to head into the break trailing by four, 40-36.
In the first half, UTC suffered from a 14-0 disadvantage in points off turnovers and a 12-0 mark in second-chance points after committing seven turnovers to MSU’s two and grabbing four offensive boards to the Eagles’ seven. Both teams torched the net from deep with similar 46.7% (7-of-15) marks in the opening 20.
Chattanooga started fast in the second half and brought it within one on two separate occasions before the hosts responded with a 9-2 run to make it 53-45 with 14:34 left in the contest. They continued to lead by eight at the under 12, 57-49 (11:38), after both teams continued to trade points in the paint.
Sam Alexis knocked down a three to make it 61-56 at the 9:25 mark ahead of a 9-3 Eagles run that featured a second-chance three and three-straight layups in the paint, brining the tally to 70-59 (6:54). A late rally highlighted by an Honor Huff four-point play pulled the Mocs within five, 85-80 (0:12) down the stretch, but MSU fought off the late rally to notch the 87-80 final decision.
RECORDS/SERIES – Chattanooga 5-3 · Morehead State 6-3 · Series: Morehead State leads the all-time series 2-0.
THREE KEY NOTES | MORE
1. The Mocs are now 35-12 in its last 47 non-conference games… 14-7 in non-conference road games over its last 21… Morehead State improved to 42-5 at home over past four seasons after the win.
2. Morehead State shot 57.6% (34-of-59) from the field in the win… highest FG% allowed to an opponent since allowing 58.0% (29-of-50) at Wofford on February 8, 2020… highest allowed to a non-conference opponent since 57.7% (30-of-52) at Georgia State on December 12, 2018.
3. Honor Huff finished with 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting including a 3-of-10 mark from deep… tied a career-high with six assists… second time with six… last was at Seattle on December 5, 2021 as a member of VMI… career long streak of seven-straight games in double figures.
QUOTABLE | MORE
F Tyler Millin on the difference between the two teams.
“They were older, we have some younger guys, it was definitely a learning experience. We have to take this loss and bounce back.”
HC Dan Earl on how the difference in experience plays a role.
“That’s a little bit of college basketball, but we have to get better and grow up, and grow up quickly. We seem to take turns making mistakes between the younger guys and the older guys. I thought some guys banged well and had stronger bodies, but our younger guys and our guards need to do a better job of keeping the ball in front of them.
NEXT UP – Tennessee Wesleyan – Sunday, Dec. 10 – 2:00 p.m. ET – McKenzie Arena – ESPN+ – Buy Tickets
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