Tuesday, January 02, 2001

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - Toot Young scored a career-high 23 points as Chattanooga held off East Tennessee State for a 67-58 victory Tuesday (Jan. 2).

With 11:44 left in the first half, Dusty Pullian tipped the ball in to give Chattanooga (6-5, 1-1 Southern Conference) a 14-12 lead. The Mocs then pulled away on a 18-4 run led by Young, who scored 10 points down the stretch.

East Tennessee (5-7, 0-1) trailed 43-28 by halftime.

In the second half, East Tennessee outscored Chattanooga 30-24. The Buccaneers came within eight twice, the last time after a dunk by Renaldo Johnson to make it 53-45 with 9:17 to play. That was as close as East Tennessee would get.

Pullian and Clyde McCully each added 13 points for Chattanooga, and Oliver Morton had 10 points and nine rebounds.

East Tennessee was led by D.J. McDuffie with 16 points. Johnson and Dimeco Childress each chipped in 10.