Mocs struggling on offense at crucial times

UTC forward Tre' McLean throws the ball back in bounds near WCU forward Onno Steger (33) during the Mocs' home basketball game against the Western Carolina Catamounts at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
UTC forward Tre' McLean throws the ball back in bounds near WCU forward Onno Steger (33) during the Mocs' home basketball game against the Western Carolina Catamounts at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Frustrated by Thursday's four-point Southern Conference loss to Furman, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball coach Matt McCall found a quiet spot away from people and sat with his head down, collecting his thoughts.

UTC senior Tre' McLean sat on one of the media tables, hoodie pulled over his head.

The Mocs' offense bogged down in the second half, with only 17 points in the 60-56 loss. The game was tied three times down the stretch until a Kris Acox hook shot in the lane proved to be the go-ahead basket.

UTC was solid down the stretch defensively but had more turnovers in 30 second-half possessions (nine) than baskets (six). The Mocs missed all six of their 3-point attempts after a 6-for-13 first-half performance, and they had a turnover and a shot blocked by Furman's Devin Sibley in their final two possessions.

McCall said the team was going to have to look at what it's doing offensively.

"I thought we were terrific down the stretch against Western Carolina (last Saturday)," McCall said. "I really thought we did a great job of taking care of the ball. We ran good good offense tonight. Guys were just missing, not seeing the floor and seeing what's open.

"We've got to do a better job as coaches showing that and explaining to them what to look for in certain actions."

Maybe the Mocs were charmed last season, McCall's first with the program, as they didn't have many of the issues in late-game execution as they've been having this year. Center Justin Tuoyo said that, with an all-senior starting lineup, the team should be able to figure out the execution part in key moments.

As was the case in a five-point loss at East Tennessee State on Jan. 28 and in a five-point defeat at UNC Greensboro on Jan. 2, the Mocs played hard Thursday but failed to make plays down the stretch when it mattered most.

And the road doesn't get any easier, as the Mocs (17-7, 8-4) visit Wofford (13-13, 8-5) tonight in Spartanburg. The Terriers outlasted Samford 131-127 in four overtimes Thursday, with starters Eric Garcia and Ryan Sawvell playing 58 minutes each and guard Fletcher Magee playing in 56.

"It's going to be a tough game on Saturday," Tuoyo said after Thursday's bitter defeat. "Obviously tonight hurts, but we've got a rule that at midnight we've got to let the loss go. It's going to hurt for a couple hours, but at midnight we've got to let it go. Wofford don't care that we lost; they'll be ready to play us and their crowd will be ready to play us, so we've got to turn around and compete Saturday."

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.

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