The Western Carolina Catamounts secured a hard-fought 81-76 victory over the Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs, led by Julien Soumaoro's impressive 25-point performance. Soumaoro's scoring effort was complemented by Tidjiane Dioumassi's 16 points and Marcus Kell's 11 points, as Western Carolina improved its record to 10-15. Chattanooga, meanwhile, fell to 10-17, with Jordan Frison scoring 20 points and dishing out 6 assists in the losing effort. The Mocs' Teddy Washington Jr. added 13 points, while Tate Darner contributed 12 points.
Julien Soumaoro's 25-Point Performance Leads Western Carolina to Victory
The Western Carolina Catamounts took control early, outscoring the Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs 39-29 in the first half. Chattanooga narrowed the gap in the second half, scoring 47 points to Western Carolina's 42, but ultimately fell short by 5 points. The Mocs' Jordan Frison had a strong game, scoring 20 points on 7-14 shooting, while Julien Soumaoro led all scorers with 25 points on 9-17 shooting. Western Carolina's Tidjiane Dioumassi chipped in with 16 points, including 3-6 from beyond the arc, as the Catamounts shot 43.1% from the field. Chattanooga, meanwhile, shot 40.6% from the field, with Teddy Washington Jr. and Tate Darner combining for 25 points.
Julien Soumaoro was the standout performer for Western Carolina, scoring 25 points and leading the Catamounts to victory. Jordan Frison was Chattanooga's top performer, scoring 20 points and dishing out 6 assists. Tidjiane Dioumassi added 16 points for Western Carolina, while Teddy Washington Jr. and Tate Darner scored 13 and 12 points, respectively, for Chattanooga. Marcus Kell contributed 11 points for the Catamounts, including 3-5 from beyond the arc. The top performers for both teams combined for 85 points, with Soumaoro and Frison accounting for 45 of those points.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The Western Carolina Catamounts outshot the Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs 43.1% to 40.6% from the field, with both teams attempting 55 field goals. Western Carolina also outrebounded Chattanooga 34-29, with 12 offensive rebounds leading to 14 second-chance points. The Catamounts committed 12 turnovers, while the Mocs turned the ball over 11 times. From beyond the arc, Western Carolina shot 36.4% (8-22), while Chattanooga shot 30.8% (8-26). The Mocs' Jordan Frison led all players with 6 assists, while Western Carolina's Julien Soumaoro had 3 steals.
The CHD Scout model predicted a Chattanooga victory by 5.9 points, with a predicted score of 79-73. However, the actual result was a 5-point Western Carolina victory, with the Catamounts outscoring the Mocs 81-76. The model was incorrect in its prediction, as Western Carolina's strong first-half performance and Julien Soumaoro's 25-point effort propelled the Catamounts to victory. The model's predicted margin of 5.9 points was close to the actual margin of 5 points, but the incorrect prediction highlights the challenges of forecasting college basketball games.
The loss drops Chattanooga's record to 10-17, with the Mocs falling to 0-1 in Quadrant 4 games against Western Carolina. The Western Carolina Catamounts, meanwhile, improve to 10-15 and move to 1-0 in Quadrant 4 games against Chattanooga. The victory is a significant one for Western Carolina, as it boosts the Catamounts' NET ranking from 263 to potentially higher. Chattanooga's NET ranking, meanwhile, remains at 295, highlighting the challenges the Mocs face in terms of tournament positioning. With the loss, Chattanooga's chances of making a postseason push take a hit, while Western Carolina's victory keeps the Catamounts in the hunt for a potential tournament bid.
The Western Carolina Catamounts want to build on their momentum when they face their next opponent, while the Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs will aim to bounce back from the loss. The exact dates and opponents for the next games are not yet available, but both teams want to improve their records and positioning in the conference standings. Western Carolina will be seeking to extend its winning streak, while Chattanooga want to snap a losing skid and get back on track.