Division II Francis Marion downs young Mocs, 68-63
Growing pains were expected from the inexperienced University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s basketball team this season.
Just not during Saturday’s home exhibition game against Division II program Francis Marion.
Nevertheless, first-year UTC coach Lamont Paris expressed his lack of major concern for the 68-63 loss. The former Wisconsin assistant put the result in perspective before the Mocs’ regular season tips off this Friday at Wyoming.
“We certainly want to win every time we go out against another team, but I could’ve been happier in scoring less points than they did, and I could’ve been disappointed if we had actually won,” Paris said. “They hit a couple big shots late. One guy hit a deep 3 while Makinde (London) was guarding him, and if that doesn’t go in then maybe we win the game, but I can’t think differently because of one shot at this time of the year.
“If we were in a tournament or any sort of postseason, we’ll take a win any way we can get it,” Paris continued. “But it’d be fool’s gold for me to be happy or not because of a shot at the end going in.”
The Mocs — with their brandnew starting lineup and mostly new players — struggled early in finding good shots and preventing the Patriots from making them. After the first five minutes of play, Francis Marion had an eight-point lead thanks largely to its control of the offensive glass.
UTC eventually soared past the Patriots in rebounding numbers, but its high volume of turnovers — 22 — repeatedly thwarted the Mocs’ chances of building momentum.
“I don’t like it. It was a big reason the score was what it was,” Paris said of the turnover total. “It’s no secret that I come from a program that has often led the country in committing the fewest turnovers. We’ve practiced probably more than most teams situations where you’d be most likely to turn the ball over, so because of that I’m concerned, certainly.”
Four UTC players scoring in double figures was one of the largest positives from the contest. London led the Mocs with 17 points. Rodney Chatman recorded a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Newcomer James Lewis Jr. added 12 points off the bench, and the most efficient numbers came from guard Makale Foreman, who totaled 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including two 3-pointers.
“My teammates found me and I was able to get space and hit open shots,” Foreman said. “Right now offensively we just have to see how each game plays out. If I end up being one of the leading scorers one game that’s great, but I want to get my teammates involved as much as I can.”
Francis Marion was led by Detrek Browning with 17 points. Brandon Parker chipped in 16, while Judah Alexander added 11.