Lucky for Will Wade, his job is to win games as the coach for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s basketball team. Not win them in a certain way, but just to win.
Because there was little pretty about the Mocs’ game Thursday night except for the final score.
UTC’s Justin Tuoyo, center, and Casey Jones, bottom, knock down a shot by Western Carolina’s Mike Brown (2) Thursday at McKenzie Arena.Casey Jones had another double-double and Justin Tuoyo tied the record for most blocked shots in a Southern Conference game with nine as UTC defeated Western Carolina 66-60 in front of 2,724 at McKenzie Arena. The Mocs improved to 36-3 all-time at home in the series.
The Mocs (10-7, 3-1) blocked 15 shots, which tied the school record set Dec. 18, 2001, against Bluefield College. They also tied Virginia Military Institute for the top blocks total in a SoCon game this season.
Four UTC players scored in double figures. Jones led the team with 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Tuoyo had 15 points and Ronrico White and Eric Robertson scored 11 each.