East Tennessee State Buccaneers Defeat Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs 73-61 Behind Jordan McCullum's 24 Points

The East Tennessee State Buccaneers secured a 73-61 victory over the Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs, with Jordan McCullum leading the charge with 24 points and 6 rebounds. This win improves East Tennessee State's record to 19-7, while Tennessee at Chattanooga falls to 10-16. The Buccaneers' 41 points in the second period were crucial in securing the 12-point margin, outscoring the Mocs by 7 points in the final 20 minutes. East Tennessee State's net ranking of 116 will likely remain steady after this Q4 win.

The game began with the East Tennessee State Buccaneers taking an early lead, scoring 32 points in the first period to the Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs' 27. The Mocs struggled to keep pace, with Jordan Frison's 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists being a notable exception. The Buccaneers' Cam Morris III and Blake Barkley chipped in with 11 points each, helping to maintain the lead throughout the game. At halftime, East Tennessee State held a 5-point advantage, which they expanded to 12 by the final buzzer. The Buccaneers' 73 total points were fueled by 41% shooting from the field, including 32% from beyond the arc. The Mocs, on the other hand, shot 40% from the field and 25% from three-point range, scoring 61 points.

Jordan McCullum was the standout performer for the East Tennessee State Buccaneers, scoring 24 points and grabbing 6 rebounds. Cam Morris III and Blake Barkley also made significant contributions, each scoring 11 points. For the Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs, Jordan Frison led the way with 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Tate Darner added 13 points and 6 rebounds. Brennan Watkins chipped in with 11 points for the Mocs. The top performers from both teams combined for 84 points, with the Buccaneers' trio accounting for 46 of those points.

The East Tennessee State Buccaneers outscored the Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs by 12 points, with a 41-34 advantage in the second period. The Buccaneers shot 41% from the field, including 32% from beyond the arc, while the Mocs shot 40% from the field and 25% from three-point range. The rebounding margin was nearly even, with East Tennessee State holding a 36-34 edge. The Buccaneers committed 12 turnovers, while the Mocs turned the ball over 15 times. The 12-point margin of victory was 10.7 points fewer than the predicted 22.7-point margin.

The CHD Scout prediction model correctly forecasted an East Tennessee State victory, with a predicted score of 85-62. Although the actual margin of victory was 12 points, which was 10.7 points fewer than predicted, the model was correct in identifying the Buccaneers as the winners. The model's accuracy in predicting the outcome is a reflection of its effectiveness in evaluating team performance. The predicted score was off by 12 points, but the model's correct identification of the winner is a significant positive.

This victory improves the East Tennessee State Buccaneers' record to 19-7, with a net ranking of 116. As a Q4 win, it may not significantly impact the Buccaneers' tournament resume, but it does help to maintain their current standing. For the Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs, the loss drops their record to 10-16, with a net ranking of 295. This game was a Q2 opportunity for the Mocs, but the loss will not significantly harm their resume. The Buccaneers' quad record will remain relatively unchanged, while the Mocs will see a minor adjustment to their quad record.

The East Tennessee State Buccaneers want to build on this momentum in their next game, while the Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs will aim to bounce back from this loss. The Buccaneers' next game is scheduled for [insert date] against [insert opponent], while the Mocs will face [insert opponent] on [insert date]. With 73 points scored in this game, the Buccaneers want to continue their strong offense in their next matchup.