(Photo Credit: Dale Rutemeyer/GoMocs.com) Justin Tuoyo had a career-high 14 points to go with nine rebounds and six blocks in the 19-point triumph at The Citadel

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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.---The Chattanooga Mocs opened Southern Conference play tonight in grand fashion with a dominant performance in a 67-48 win at The Citadel. Justin Tuoyo led the way with a career-high 14 points in a team effort.

All 10 Mocs who played, scored. In fact, the first nine baskets came from nine different student-athletes. Greg Pryor joined Tuoyo in double figures with 11 points. Tuoyo added nine rebounds and six blocks. P.J. Horgan led the home team with 17 points and nine rebounds.

“We got great contributions from a lot of folks,” coach Will Wade shared. “I was really proud, and I told the team that. Chuck (Ester) and Duke (Ethridge) were huge for us because we had been looking for numbers from them. Our first nine baskets were scored by nine different folks.

“I thought we had contributions from a lot of people.”

The win evens the Mocs record at 5-5, 1-0 in the league, while the Bulldogs fall to 4-5, 0-1 SoCon. The turning point in the game came just past the mid-point of the first half. Chattanooga was rolling, up by 10, when Jake Wright came off the bench and reeled off 10 unanswered points to knot the game at 21-all.

“I thought the game turned when they tied it at 21, and we went on a 10-2 run to end the half,” Wade added. “That's something we haven't been able to do all season. We haven't been able to respond to adversity like that. To be up by eight at the half is huge. I thought that really set the tone. We were able to begin the second half with a lot of momentum.”

From 21-21, the Mocs went on a 14-2 run to end the first half and start the second. Tuoyo opened with back-to-back scores after the break to get the lead to 12. The Citadel got no closer than 11 the rest of the way.

The Citadel went 5:25 without a field goal from Horgan's basket at 2:18 in the first half to his layup at 16:53. Ronrico White answered it 23 seconds later to make it a 16-point game, 42-26.

C.J. Bray responded for the Bulldogs at 16:13 with a layup. It took another 6:27 before The Citadel would net its next field goal. Two Duke Ethridge free throws extended the lead to 21 at 12:13. It reached 22, 57-35, on Eric Robertson's three-pointer at 9:26. The Mocs slowed it down from there for the 19-point win.

It was the largest margin of victory in a SoCon road game for the Mocs since January 15, 2005. That was a 24-point conquest, 88-64, at Wofford.

“Our guys followed the game plan and were locked in defensively,” Wade said. “We guarded really well. The defense was outstanding tonight, and we beat them by 12 on the boards. If you do that on that road, you're going to win on the road. Defense and rebounding travels.

“Tre' McLean was tremendous on one of the SoCon's top scorers in Ashton Moore,” Wade concluded. “He didn't give him any clean looks. I thought that was a key to the game.”

McLean held Moore to just seven points which is 10 below his 17.1 point-per-game average entering the contest. McLean added eight points as did White who tallied four assists as well. The reserves combined for 28 points and 12 rebounds.

“Tonight wasn't a one-man effort,” McLean said. “It was a great team effort. All 13 guys contributed in some way.  You had someone boxing out, rebounding, scoring…something every time down the court. 

“It was a great group effort.”

The Mocs return home Tuesday to host Northern Kentucky. Game time is 7 p.m., with links to video (SoCon Digital Network), audio (Mocs Sports Network) and live stats available on GoMocs.com. Follow @GoMocsMBB on Twitter for live updates.

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