Mocs caught in Richmond's web

Mocs starting point guard Keegan Bell did not score until less than four minutes remained.

That was just one of many problems for the Mocs in the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's 75-49 loss at Richmond on Sunday.

"We have to get healthy, we have to grow up and we have to learn from it," UTC coach John Shulman said on the post-game radio show. "This is growing points. We have to get better."

The Mocs (2-1) struggled to score against the Spiders 2-3 matchup zone, and they had trouble slowing the Spiders' intricate offense in an opening round game of the South Padre Island Invitational.

They had trouble with turnovers (23) troubles on the glass (getting out-rebounded 44-33) and struggled with basics aspects of how coach John Shulman wants them to play.

"They made more layups than 3-pointers and that isn't good," UTC junior Ridge McKeither said on the radio show. "We came in here happy after the ETSU win, and we thought it would be sweet and easy. We never woke up."

Kevin Anderson led all players with 23 points and Francis Martel added 10 for the Spiders (3-1). McKeither led the Mocs with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and DeAntre Jefferson added 10. Bell finished with two points on a set of free throws with 3:52 to play.

"Everybody has an off shooting day," Jefferson said over the air. "It was a bad day on the outside. If we would have kept the turnovers down and rebounded hard, we could have come out with a win."

The Mocs trudged their way through the opening minutes and trailed 14-0 barely five minutes into the game.

Problems continued through the rest of the first half at both ends of the floor resulting in a 40-24 deficit at halftime.

"We let them get off to a big start which we shouldn't have," McKeither said. "We were really focused on their offense."

Richmond maintained control in the early minutes of the second half and continued to cruise until the end. UTC never pulled closer than 18 points at any point the final 20 minutes, and trailed by as many as 31 in the final minutes.

"I know we can take it up a few more notches," Jefferson said. "We're still gelling and I know we have far to go."