In four seasons with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball program, dating back to when he was a redshirt transfer from Virginia Commonwealth University, Justin Tuoyo has consistently made strides to improve his game.
His production is at a high point this season.
Five games into the schedule, the 6-foot-10 Tuoyo has averaged 17 points, eight rebounds and 3.8 blocks, team bests in all three categories this season and career highs for the senior. He's also shooting 79 percent from the foul line, 10 percentage points better than his final number last season.
He and the Mocs (3-2) are back in action today when they visit pesky rival Kennesaw State (2-3) at 2:30 p.m. in Kennesaw, Ga. It will be the fifth game away from McKenzie Arena in the first six for the Mocs, who play at Coastal Carolina on Tuesday before returning home to face Louisiana-Monroe next Saturday.
Tuoyo averaged 20 points, eight rebounds and five blocks during the Mocs' two games last weekend in the Maui Invitational Mainland event in West Point, N.Y. As he has done throughout his career, he deflected all the credit.
"The players around me get me the ball in the right spots," Tuoyo said after the Mocs defeated Central Arkansas 75-64 last Saturday night. "They make it easy for me. We've got great shooters and great cutters.
"It was a team effort."
With senior Casey Jones sidelined with an ankle injury, Tuoyo had 16 points, six rebounds and six blocks in that game, and he followed with a season-high 24 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks when the Mocs lost 73-67 to Arkansas State.
That game was played 12 hours after the Mocs returned to their hotel room from the first game.
"His approach has been so good," UTC coach Matt McCall said after that game. "He plays as if something is on the line every time he suits up. I'm really proud of him; I think he has grown immensely since I've been here, and the sky is the limit for him."