CHATTANOOGA, TENN. – Casey Jones notched a game-high 23 points as Chattanooga completed a 78-73 victory over The Citadel in Saturday evening Southern Conference basketball action at McKenzie Arena. Jones was joined in double figures by Greg Pryor and Ronrico White who added 14 points apiece.
 
Entering the second half with a 17-point advantage, a pair of 3-pointers by White and Pryor, wrapped around a layup by Brian White, gave Chattanooga (15-8, 8-2 SoCon) its largest lead of the contest, 53-32.
 
A trey by Ashton Moore coupled with layups by Marshall Harris III and Quinton Marshall highlighted a 7-0 Citadel run that trimmed the deficit to 14 with 15:41 left.
 
The Dogs (8-13, 3-7 SoCon) knocked down four free throws and added layups by Marshall and P.J. Horgan to make for a 57-47 lead just over three minutes later.
 
After Warren Sledge drove past Chattanooga's defense to slice the lead to eight, the Mocs ran off seven unanswered to make for a 64-49 contest with just over 10 minutes left.
 
Four points by Brian White and a driving layup by Sledge highlighted a 6-0 run that again had Bulldogs within striking distance. However, Jones again proved to be the nemesis for The Citadel as he scored four of the next eight points for the Mocs, who assumed a 72-61 advantage.
 
Late treys by Moore and Sledge helped The Citadel close out the game on a 12-6 run that made for the six-point loss.
 
Jones topped the 20-point mark for the sixth time this season after hitting 10-of-16 from the floor and 3-3-of-3 at the charity stripe. Pryor also enjoyed a solid outing as he finished 4-of-8 from the field.
 
A bulk of White's came at the free throw line where he finished 9-of-10, highlighting a Chattanooga team that finished 20-of-26 (76.9%) in the contest.
 
The Mocs were successful on 27-of-48 (56.3%) attempts from the floor, despite struggling from 3-point range (4-11).
 
Moore led five Citadel players in double figures with his 18-point effort. He managed to hit 6-of-15 from the floor, converting four from beyond the arc, as he led the team in scoring for the 14^th time this season.
 
White, who finished 7-of-8 from the field en route to season-high 17 points, was also a solid presence on the board with a game-high six rebounds. He was joined in the paint by P.J. Horgan (10 points) and Quinton Marshall (10).
 
Point guard Warren Sledge came off the bench to close with 12 points and five assists, hitting 4-of-6 from the field and knocking down both 3-point attempts.
 
The Citadel hit 27-of-46 (58.7%) from the field and was 7-of-13 from long distance. The Bulldogs also finished with a 24-22 edge in rebounds, hauling in 19 defensive.
 
Jones scored the first nine points of the contest and Pryor added five as the Mocs streaked out to an eventual 20-11 lead at the 11:33 mark.
 
The Citadel responded with a brief rally, using a jumper by Moore and a free throw by Quinton Marshall to pull within nine 23-14. However, Chattanooga retaliated with a 15-9 run that included six points by Jones and four by Tuoyo to establish a 38-23 advantage with 3:18 left in the frame.
 
The backcourt tandem of Moore and Sledge provided five of the seven points down the stretch for the Dogs who entered halftime facing a 47-30 deficit.
 
The Citadel returns home on Feb. 5 to take on Mercer and quickly follows with a meeting against UNCG two days later. In that homestand Bulldog fans are encouraged to participate by donating non-perishable items at the games as part of the SoCon Hoops Against Hunger initiative.
 
Hoops Against Hunger, in partnership with the Brad Daugherty Foundation, brings together the basketball community along with public, private, and sports organizations as well as local and national sponsors to help provide meals for students who may not have enough to eat at home during the extended holiday breaks from school.