ASHEVILLE, N.C. (March 5, 2026) --- The No. 8 seeded Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball team opens play at the 2026 Southern Conference Basketball Championships against No. 9 The Citadel in the Opening Round stage on Friday evening inside the Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville in Asheville, N.C. Tip-off against is set for 5 p.m. (ET) on ESPN+.
The winner of the No. 8 / No. 9 matchup will advance to face No. 1 ETSU in the quarterfinal stage on Saturday afternoon at Noon. Chattanooga begins tournament play in the opening round stage for the first time since 2023 and for just the eighth time since the format began in 1993.
Tickets for the 2026 Southern Conference Championships can be purchased HERE.
Full game details, notes, links and more are located below.
SoCon Opening Round | Tickets | Bracket
No. 8 Chattanooga vs. No. 9 The Citadel
Date: Fri., March 6 ∙
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Site: Asheville, N.C. (Harrah's Cherokee Center)
TV:
ESPN+ ∙
Radio:
Mocs Sports Network
Follow:
Live Stats ∙
@GoMocsMBB on X/Twitter
SERIES HISTORY VS. THE CITADEL
99th Meeting: 76-22 (N: 2-0)
Last Meeting: Chattanooga 93, at The Citadel 72 – 2/21/26 (Charleston, S.C.)
SoCon Tournament: UTC leads 2-0
GAME NOTES
Chattanooga ∙
The Citadel
GAME HEADLINES
CHATTANOOGA ENTERS AS NO. 8 SEED
•
Chattanooga (13-18) enters the 2026 Southern Conference Tournament as the No. 8 seed... opens against No. 9 The Citadel on Friday at 5 p.m. (ET)... first time having to start in opening round since 2023.
•
Chattanooga will make its eighth appearance in the opening round (since 1993)... 5-2 record in seven previous appearances.
•
Chattanooga reached the title game as the No. 7 seed in
Dan Earl's first season back in 2023... team welcomed back Jake Stephens for the run.
•
Chattanooga has made a league-best 20 title game appearances over its SoCon history... 12 titles also leads the league.
FRISON NAMED TO ALL-SOCON TEAM
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Jordan Frison earned a spot on the All-SoCon Third Team... finished ninth in the SoCon in scoring (16.4 ppg)... fourth in FG% (55.9)... fifth in assists average (3.9).
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Frison has totaled 509 points this season... 25th different Moc to score 500+ in a single season... one of eight 500+ scorers in the SoCon this year.
MILESTONES FOR DAN EARL, BILLY SMITH
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Dan Earl will be coaching in his 350th career game during Friday's opening round game against The Citadel... earned his 80th win at
UTC following the team's victory over The Citadel in the last matchup on February 21.
• G
Billy Smith surpassed 1,000 career points during last Thursday's contest against UNCG... scored 162 at Miami (OH) in 2022-23... 600 at Bellarmine from 2023-2025... now 261 at
UTC.
FEELS LIKE 1939?
• Chattanooga will look to become the first Southern Conference Tournament champion to win the event with four wins in four days since 1939 Clemson... Tigers defeated UNC, Wake Forest, Davidson and Maryland... tournament was held in Raleigh, N.C., inside Thompson Gym.
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