UTC Mocs logoUniversity of Tennessee at Chattanooga players scattered on Wednesday when they returned to McKenzie Arena after flying back from Tuesday's 80-67 loss at Louisiana State.
Coaches headed to their offices.
John Shulman opened his laptop and watched the pivotal swing for about the 20th time since the plays happened in the Maravich Center.
The Mocs ran their offense and Zaccheus Mason sank a 3-pointer from the top of the key to get UTC within 55-53. Then Shulman watched the Tigers run a play with -- what he called a "questionable" screen -- to get a 3 from Andre Stringer that started a 12-3 run by the Tigers.
Other plays that went unnoticed to observers led UTC's seventh loss of the season instead of its third win.
"Gee [McGhee] misses a layup and they get a dunk on the other end, and that's a four-point swing," Shulman said. "On the next play, he bobbles the ball and they get a layup. That's eight points.
"We have to clean up little things."
The Mocs (2-7) had 15 turnovers -- a reasonable number for UTC against a Southeastern Conference team -- but were out-rebounded 46-39 and allowed 15 offensive rebounds. Those are numbers that do not lead to UTC victory.
"If we correct some of the things that we do and we'll be fine," said sophomore guard Ronrico White who set a career-high with 17 points against LSU (6-0). "We're very close to getting over the hump."
UTC will compete for its third win of the season when it plays its next game on Sunday at 3 p.m. against Mercer.
"I feel like we actually should have won the game," freshman point guard Farad Cobb said. "We have to do a better job of talking on defense and a couple other things."