Live Stream (ESPN+) | Live Audio | Live Stats | Game Notes
CHARLESTON, S.C. – For the first time in 18 days, The Citadel men's basketball squad will hit the court on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. inside McAlister Field House, welcoming Chattanooga in the conference opener for the Bulldogs.
With their first three SoCon games postponed due to COVID-19 protocols, the 'Dogs (7-0) are set to play for the first time since a 94-82 victory over Presbyterian on Dec. 22, a win that extended the season-opening winning streak to seven games, the program's best start since an 11-0 mark during the 1919-20 campaign.
Saturday's game will be featured as the Nexstar Ingles SoCon Game of the Week and will be broadcast locally on WCBD as well as via an
online ESPN+ stream with Pete Yanity and Matt Matheny on the call. The contest will also be featured on
102.1FM and 1450AM, with the Voice of the Bulldogs, Luke Mauro, behind the mic.
Additional Nexstar TV affiliates with the opportunity to air games are: WGHP (Greensboro/High Point), WJHL (Johnson City), WYCW (Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville) and WWCW (Lynchburg/Roanoke). Although not a Nexstar station, WMUB (Macon), Mercer University Broadcasting, will also air select contests.
Having racked up a double-double in four of his six games played thus far on the season,
Hayden Brown leads The Citadel in both points (21.2) and rebounds (10.3) per game, a mark that includes a stellar 31-point, 21-rebound outing against Columbia International on Dec. 7. Over just his three most recent games, Brown is averaging 27.3 points and 11.7 rebounds while shooting 54.9 percent (28-of-51) from the field.
Joining Brown in double figures for scoring are
Kaiden Rice (18.6),
Fletcher Abee (14.1) and
Tyler Moffe (11.8), who have helped lead the 'Dogs to 92.9 points per outing, currently tied with Bryant for the second-best mark in the nation behind only 95.1 points per game for No. 1 Gonzaga. The Citadel has tallied at least 78 points in each of its first seven games, marking the first time that has happened in program history.
Chattanooga (10-2, 2-1 SoCon) began the season 9-0 before dropping its first two SoCon matchups against Furman and VMI last weekend. The Mocs rebounded with a 73-68 victory over Samford on Wednesday night before making the trek to Charleston for Saturday's matinee.
David Jean-Baptiste paces the Mocs with 19.9 points per game despite drawing just five starts through 12 games. Malachi Smith averages a double-double with 16.7 points and 10.5 boards per game, and Stefan Kenic rounds out the Chattanooga trio in double figures with 12.8 points per contest.
Longtime conference rivals dating back to the 1977-78 campaign, Saturday's game with mark the 86th all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and the Mocs, with Chattanooga holding a 67-18 lead in the series. The Citadel will be seeking to snap a five-game skid against the Mocs, having most recently claimed a win in the series in a thrilling 110-101 overtime victory on Jan. 13, 2018.
Following Saturday's tilt, The Citadel will remain at home for a mid-week clash against in-state foe Furman on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. inside McAlister Field House. The Bulldogs have squared off against the Paladins more than any other opponent in program history, with Wednesday's meeting set to the be 214th all-time between the two sides. Furman holds a 126-87 edge in the series, and The Citadel will be looking for its first win since a 100-92 overtime victory on Feb. 3, 2018.
