UTC forward Justin Tuoyo, left, dunks ahead of UNCG's RJ White during the Mocs' SoCon basketball game against the UNCG Spartans on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at McKenzie Arena.Justin Tuoyo sat at the podium Saturday with a black eye that, while not incurred against UNC Greensboro on Saturday, very well could have happened with the inside battles the game included.
"I'm trying to cover it," the 6-foot-10 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga center said of the shiner, which happened in practice during the week. "It makes me look tough."
UTC posted its 11th win in the last 13 games Saturday, defeating the Spartans 81-72 in front of 4,177 fans at McKenzie Arena. The win gives the Mocs a 14-7 record, with a 7-1 mark in Southern Conference play, heading into Thursday's showdown in Macon against Mercer, which is 6-2 in the conference.
Greg Pryor scored 19 points in his third game back after an injury sidelined him for two games. Tuoyo had 18 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots. The Spartans' front line of R.J. White, Kayel Locke and Jordy Kuiper, who average 6-7 and 260 pounds, combined for 19 points, seven rebounds and 13 fouls, with White fouling out.
Kuiper and White had the primary task of guarding Tuoyo.
"UNCG has one of the best frontcourts in the league, so it was a physical game for us," Tuoyo said. "I knew tonight would be a tough game, but I tried to do everything I could."
The Mocs had 36 points from their bench, with Martynas Bareika and Eric Robertson combining to score 27 -- 23 in the first half. The home team led 44-37 at halftime on the strength of 7-for-12 shooting from 3-point range, but the Spartans went on a 9-0 run to start the second half and took a two-point edge.
A Tuoyo three-point play put the Mocs back in front, and although they would never trail again, it wasn't until an 11-4 run in a 4:30 span midway through the half that they got a little cushion.
The Spartans (6-15, 2-6) trimmed the lead to 70-67 on a layup by Locke with 4:03 to go, but they wouldn't get closer as the Mocs hit just enough free throws down the stretch to put away the visitors. UTC made 24 of 38 for the game.
"We have to be able to win with different styles," UTC coach Will Wade said. "In the league, you run the whole gauntlet because you have the fastest team in the nation (VMI) and the slowest (The Citadel).
"We've been able to win a bunch of different ways. Our defense is what has been carrying us, but tonight our defense let us down some and our offense picked up the slack. I like our versatility."
The Spartans were led by Tevon Saddler's 22 points. Locke and Diante Baldwin each totaled 12, while Marvin Smith added 10 off the bench. As a team, they were 7-for-13 at the line but outrebounded UTC 37-34.
UNCG fell to 3-9 in games decided this season by 10 points or less.
"We're right there," Spartans coach Wes Miller said. "Sometimes you get caught in the records, but we've had so many opportunities to close games out. We just haven't been able to turn the corner.
"We just have to keep working, stay committed to the process and keep getting better every day. I really do believe in my team."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.