UTC Mocs spread fun around in 94-55 rout of Hiwassee

UTC's Eric Robertson takes a shot while Hiwassee's Kaseem Davidson defends as the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga hosts Hiwassee College in a men's basketball game Monday, Nov. 16, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. UTC won their home opener by a score of 94-55.

By Gene Henley November 17, 2015 4 min read

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UTC Mocs defeat Hiwassee

UTC's Casey Jones defends the inbound pass from Hiwassee's Jeulian High as the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga hosts Hiwassee College in a men's basketball game Monday, Nov. 16, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. UTC won their home opener by a score of 94-55.

Followed by Justin Tuoyo, UTC's Dee Oldham brings the ball up the court as the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga hosts Hiwassee College in a men's basketball game Monday, Nov. 16, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. UTC won their home opener by a score of 94-55.

From left, UTC's Casey Jones and Hiwasee's Kaseem Davidson battle for the ball while Hiwasee's Aario Johnson and UTC's Justin Tuoyo battle for position as the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga hosts Hiwassee College in a men's basketball game Monday, Nov. 16, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. UTC won their home opener by a score of 94-55.

UTC's Justin Tuoyo hangs on the rim after making a slam dunk while Hiwassee's Jordan Sexton, left, and Aario Johnson look on as the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga hosts Hiwassee College in a men's basketball game Monday, Nov. 16, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. UTC won their home opener by a score of 94-55.

UTC coach Matt McCall instructs from the sideline as the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga hosts Hiwassee College in a men's basketball game Monday, Nov. 16, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. UTC won their home opener by a score of 94-55.

More Info

UTC 94, Hiwassee 55 Hiwassee (4-4) Henry 1-2 0-0 2, Johnson 4-10 0-0 8, Kitchens 5-11 0-0 12, Jeulian High 3-6 0-0 6, Davidson 1-4 0-0 2, Newman 2-4 0-0 4, Beard 1-2 0-0 2, Graves 4-9 1-1 11, Oliver 0-3 0-0 0, Sumpter 1-2 2-2 4, Culpepper 0-4 0-0 0, Jackson 0-2 0-0 0, Elliott 2-5 0-0 4, Sexton 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-65 3-3 55.UTC (2-0) Tuoyo 5-6 6-7 16, McLean 3-9 1-2 8, Pryor 2-4 1-2 7, Robertson 2-4 0-0 5, Jones 4-6 0-0 8, Ester 2-3 0-0 4, Oldham 4-4 0-0 9, Matthews 0-5 0-2 0, Burroughs-Cook 3-5 1-1 8, Woods 5-9 0-0 14, Bates 1-3 1-3 3, Bran 3-3 0-0 8, White 1-2 0-0 2, Kalina 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 36-64 10-17 94.Halftime—UTC, 51-26. 3-point goals—Hiwassee 4-19 (Graves 2-5, Kitchens 2-6, Davidson 0-1, Beard 0-1, Oliver 0-1, Sumpter 0-1, Jackson 0-1, Elliott 0-1, Culpepper 0-2); UTC 12-26 (Woods 4-7, Bran 2-2, Pryor 2-3, Oldham 1-1, Robertson 1-3, Burroughs-Cook 1-3, McLean 1-5, Matthews 0-2). Rebounds—Hiwassee 26 (Elliott 4); UTC 46 (Jones 8). Assists—Hiwassee 12 (Kitchens 3, Sumpter 3); UTC 25 (McLean 5, Pryor 5). Turnovers—Hiwassee 25 (Kitchens 6); UTC 23 (Oldham 4, Bran 4). Blocks—Hiwassee 3 (Kitchens, Culpepper, Elliott); UTC 8 (Tuoyo 4). Steals—Hiwassee 15 (Kitchens 3); UTC 18 (Pryor 6). Total fouls—Hiwassee 19, UTC 8. Fouled out—none. A—3,241.

For a while, Justin Tuoyo and some of the other University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s basketball players were able to just be fans.

With the game well in hand Monday against Hiwassee College, the 6-foot-10 reigning Southern Conference defensive player of the year became the Mocs’ tallest cheerleader, waving a towel above his head as 7-foot center Rich Kalina scored his first college points on a dunk assisted by fellow freshman ZaQwaun Matthews.

“I lost my mind,” Tuoyo said of his reaction to Kalina’s dunk. “It felt good on the sideline, so I’m proud of them. Really happy for them.”

The Mocs defeated the Tigers 94-55 in front of 3,241 fans at McKenzie Arena. UTC (2-0) will not play at home again until a Dec. 8 date with Tennessee Wesleyan, with five away games in a nine-day stretch starting Saturday at 8:30 p.m. against Illinois in the Emerald Coast Classic.