MOCS MEN’S MATCHUP
UTC (10-6, 1-2 SoCon) vs. Samford (8-9, 2-1)
Saturday at 2 p.m. at McKenzie Arena
Video/Radio: ESPN3/97.7 FM/1070 AM
Storyline: Both teams are coming off tough losses. The Mocs let a halftime lead slip away in losing to Southern Conference leader Furman, 73-66, while Samford was even with reigning league champ Wofford until the final two minutes in a 67-62 loss at home. The Mocs and Bulldogs split games a year ago, each winning at home. UTC is led in scoring by forward Matt Ryan (14.4 points/game), while preseason All-SoCon guard Josh Sharkey tops Samford with 18.6 points per game.
What’s at stake? Though it’s only game No. 3 on UTC’s SoCon slate, it seems like a must-win for coach Lamont Paris’s team. While most agree the Mocs are an improved squad from last season, the only thing that really matters are wins within the conference. Having already dropped two games in the league, Saturday’s game and next Saturday’s home contest against Wofford are huge opportunities for UTC to prove it belongs with the SoCon’s elite.
Up next: UTC hosts Wofford at 7 p.m. next Saturday.