January 28, 2003

Chattanooga, TN - One of these games, The Citadel Bulldogs might put it all together.

In a Saturday loss to College of Charleston, the Bulldogs couldn't shoot the basketball. Monday night, the Bulldogs shot the ball well, but couldn't keep the Chattanooga Mocs off the boards.

The Mocs snapped a three-game losing streak, their longest of the season, with a 79-64 win over the Bulldogs before 4,168 fans at McKenzie Arena.

Chattanooga's 42-22 edge in rebounding, including 20 offensive boards, negated one of the best shooting nights ever by a Citadel player. Senior guard Clyde Wormley - fresh off a 1-of-8 performance against College of Charleston - made 7 of 11 from 3-point range and scored a career-high 25 points for the Bulldogs (7-11, 2-5 in the Southern Conference).

Wormley's seven 3-pointers rank him No. 3 on the Bulldogs' all-time single-game list.

But the hot shooting went for naught as the Mocs (13-6, 5-3) used a 21-8 run in the first half to open up a 42-30 halftime lead. Chattanooga expanded the lead to 18 early in the second half, and the Dogs could only get as close as 10 in the final minutes.

"They just totally out-athleted us," Citadel coach Pat Dennis said. "They were bigger, stronger, faster and just absolutely destroyed us on the glass."

Ashley Champion, a 6-6 junior, and 6-6 freshman Alphonso Pugh did most of the damage inside. Champion had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Pugh chipped in 14 points. Guard Tim Parker had 12 points for the Mocs, who lurk a half-game behind first-place College of Charleston in the SoCon's South Division.

The Citadel, 1 of 18 from 3-point range in Saturday's 58-44 loss to College of Charleston, made 10 of 24 from long range Monday, and shot 43 percent from the field overall. Junior forward Max Mombollet continued his run of fine play with 17 points and seven rebounds.

The Mocs' Jason Rogan and Parker each hit 3-pointers during a 21-8 run in the first half that carried Chattanooga from an 8-8 tie to a 29-16 lead.

"They just ran and jumped and attacked us from the get-go," Dennis said. "We had a couple of turnovers early, and they started to smell blood."

The Dogs were down by 12 at intermission, but Chattanooga's Aaron Morgan started the second half with a slam dunk, and point guard Ray Trowell and Champion each hit treys for a sudden 58-32 lead. Two Wormley treys helped The Citadel cut the lead to 56-45, but the Mocs answered with a 12-5 run for a 68-50 advantage.

"Chattanooga had lost three in a row, and coming back home, they had to have this game," Dennis said.

NOTES

* Wormley apparently likes to play in Tennessee. He made 6 of 7 from 3-point range for 23 points in an 87-81 loss at East Tennessee State on Jan. 11, making him 13 of 18 on 3-pointers with 48 points in two games in Tennessee this season.

"Clyde's got to shoot the ball, and he can shoot the ball," Dennis said. "He was a little tentative against College of Charleston, but I told him he's got the green light, and he responded."

* Dennis said point guard Kevin Hammack (ankle), forward Mombollet (wrist) and guard Erick Wilson (wrist) all were banged up Monday ... The Dogs finish out the first half of the 16-game SoCon schedule at App State Saturday. Their first eight games included road contests at Davidson, ETSU, Georgia Southern, Chattanooga and App State, all among the top teams in their divisions. The second half includes five of eight games at home, with road trips to College of Charleston, Furman and Wofford.