NORTH CHARLESTON, SC -- Chattanooga escaped a scrappy VMI team with a 77-58 win in the Southern Conference Tournament semifinals Friday night in the North Charleston Coliseum. With the win, the Mocs advanced to their second SoCon Finals in three years. They will face East Tennessee State at 6:00 p.m. in a game televised nationally on ESPN2.

The loss marked the Keydets' final game in the Southern Conference, as the team will move to the Big South next season. Friday night's contest concluded a Cinderella tournament run in which VMI, the fifth seed in the North Division, knocked off both Furman and the North's No. 1 seed, Davidson.

The teams were tied at 19 with 10:41 remaining in the contest. However, the Mocs went on an 11-0 run capped by an Ashley Champion layup with 5:17 left to take a 30-19 lead. They led by nine, 38-29, at the half. Chattanooga continued its strong play in the second half, gradually building a lead as much as 22 points at 75-53 with 2:34 to play before settling for its final 19-point margin.

The Mocs outshot VMI 43.5 percent to 37.7 percent on the night. They also enjoyed a 40-36 rebound advantage, while making just nine turnovers in the contest.

Champion led all players on the night with 23 points. He was supported by Jason Rogan, who tallied 15 points and seven rebounds, and Tim Parker, who had 11 points. Aaron Morgan had a game-high nine rebounds.

Radee Skipworth led the Keydets with 18 points and five boards. Preston Beverly had 10 points and six rebounds, while Richard Little tallied a career high 13 assists on the evening.

Saturday's championship game will be the first all-Tennessee Southern Conference Final since 1993, when Chattanooga topped East Tennessee State 82-75.

CHATTANOOGA HEAD COACH JEFF LEBO
"I thought we really gutted it out tonight. We weren't as hyped up as we were the first game against Appalachian State. I thought we established ourselves in the second half, especially with (Ashley) Champion inside. "

"The tempo of the game was too slow to start but we were able to change that. We managed to get some easy baskets, cause steals and score in transition in the second half. Fatigue was also a factor. I thought they got tired in the second half and we were able to take advantage."

VMI HEAD COACH BART BELLAIRS
"We looked a little tired tonight. They really bullied us for a while, and that's because our legs were gone. I'm proud of our guys. They could have given up throughout the year, but refused to quit."

"Chattanooga played very, very well. We just didn't finish enough plays when we took it to the rim, but sometimes that's from being a little tired."

"We came here to win the tournament. That's what means more to me, that our attitude was to win it. These kids deserved the attention they received."