CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina threw the first punch against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s basketball team Saturday.
The Mocs responded with a punch of their own, and it was a haymaker.
Justin Tuoyo and Greg Pryor each scored 15 points to lead three in double figures for UTC, which won its Southern Conference opener 64-48 over the Catamounts in front of 1,020 fans at the Ramsey Center.
The Mocs (10-3, 1-0) play Monday at 7 p.m. at UNC Greensboro (10-5, 1-1) before returning home to host Wofford and Furman in a three-game week.
The Catamounts led 14-5 after a Devin Peterson 3-pointer at the 10:34 mark of the first half, but the Mocs responded with a 14-2 run to take control of the game. Pryor had 13 of his 15 points in the first 20 minutes, making all four of his shots, including three 3-pointers, and both of his free throws, and Tuoyo had nine points.