MOCS MEN’S HOOPS

› UTC AT VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE › ONLINE/RADIO: ESPN3/96.1 FM › TODAY AT 1 P.M. › CAMERON HALL, LEXINGTON, VA.

MOCS REPORT

The Mocs fell behind early and never recovered Friday, losing 72-51 at UNC Greensboro to split the season series. It was UTC’s second consecutive game without point guard Rodney Chatman, who has averaged 13.3 points and 4.6 assists per game this season but sprained an ankle against Furman on Feb. 15. He is unlikely to play again today, with the Mocs needing a win to secure the No. 9 seed for this week’s conference tournament.

KEYDETS REPORT

Like the Mocs in their first season under coach Lamont Paris, the Keydets have relied on youth in a number of key spots this season. In this season’s first meeting between the programs, it was a freshman (Parham) and a junior (Vereen) who linked up for the game-winning play with six seconds remaining. As a result of their win in Chattanooga on Jan. 27, the Keydets would be the SoCon tournament’s ninth seed if they win today, the No. 10 seed if the Mocs do.

KEY MATCHUP

With a chance at back-to-back wins, the Mocs led by one with the ball in their hands and 17 seconds remaining in the first meeting against VMI. From that point forward, they turned the ball over, then allowed Vereen’s layup to beat them, with Chatman missing a short bank shot at the buzzer. Paris said after the loss Friday at UNCG that he felt the Mocs “should have won that,” and he has instilled the belief in his players that they deserve to win every game. If they can take care of business and finish this time if up late, it could be the little jolt UTC needs going into the league tournament.