University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men vs. Virginia Military Institute at Cameron Hall in Lexington, Virginia
Time: 7 p.m.
Video/radio: ESPN3/96.1 FM
Likely lineups (with heights and scoring averages in parentheses)
UTC (10-15, 5-6 Southern Conference)
Projected starters: F Kevin Easley (6-6, 15.0); G David Jean-Baptiste (6-1, 8.5); G Jerry Johnson Jr. (6-1, 10.5); F Jonathan Scott (6-4, 6.8); F Ramon Vila (6-8, 10.7).
Key reserves: C Thomas Smallwood (7-0, 6.1); G Donovann Toatley (5-9, 11.7).
VMI (7-15, 1-9)
Projected starters: G Garrett Gilkeson (6-4, 11.0); F Myles Lewis (6-5, 9.5); G Bubba Parham (5-11, 20.7); G Sarju Patel (6-3, 9.1); C Jake Stephens (6-8 , 7.3).
Key reserves: C Tyler Creammer (6-10, 6.2); G Greg Parham (6-4, 7.8).
MOCS REPORT
UTC is on the road after a pair of tough home losses to Western Carolina and East Tennessee State, extending the team’s SoCon losing streak to four games. Defense and rebounding were problems this past week, most notably the 105 points allowed to Western Carolina. The good news is Jean-Baptiste should be back in the lineup after a bout with illness, putting the Mocs’ best defender on the floor again. The Mocs rank in the top 50 nationally in 3-pointers made per game (9.2) and 3-point shooting percentage (.375). They are 10-3 when leading at halftime, 0-10 when trailing and 0-1 when tied. Seventy-three points seems to be the success point for UTC defensively as it is 1-13 when allowing more than that and 9-1 when allowing less.
KEYDETS REPORT
VMI has been hit hard by injuries. Last season’s second- and third-leading scorers, Austin Vereen and Jordan Ratliffe, have been out for several weeks. The Keydets like the 3-pointer as well, having made 10 or more in 13 games this season and producing 62 makes in their past six games alone. They are 7-4 when shooting a better 3-point percentage than the opposition but 0-11 when not. Bubba Parham is the SoCon’s leading scorer this season, when has 11 games with 20 or more points.
KEY MATCHUP
Both teams have struggled to rebound, though the recent addition of Stephens into the VMI lineup has helped the Keydets. Getting Jean-Baptiste back is good news for the Mocs because he will likely spend extensive minutes guarding Parham.