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CHATTANOOGA---Justin Tuoyo's career-high 21 points and season-high 12 rebounds propelled the Chattanooga Mocs (9-2) to a 78-66 win over Kennesaw State (3-10) Friday night. The 9-2 start is the best since 2002-03.
 
"(Tuoyo) was the difference in the game with his presence on the backboard," coach Matt McCall stated. "I'm just really proud of him and the rest of the team with how they found a way down the stretch to get stops and grind out a win. I'm also proud of all our guys.
 
"I talked to my whole team about (finishing) at the half, because I thought we weren't gathering ourselves. We were getting knocked around and when we put a shot up, it would get blocked. Tuoyo really started gathering himself and powering up. When he does that, it's hard to defend."
 
Tuoyo was one of four in double digits for the home team. Eric Robertson scored 15 for the second night in a row, while Tre' McLean and Chuck Ester added 14 and 11, respectively. Greg Pryor and Ester each tallied career highs for assists with nine and five.
 
Yonel Brown led all scorers with 24 for the Owls. Bernard Morena had 13, while Kendrick Ray chipped in 12. Jordan Jones had a team-best eight boards.
 
Brown's three-pointer with 13:58 left just beat the shot clock and gave KSU an eight-point cushion, 52-44. McLean capped a 14-6 spurt to tie it at 58-all with a triple of his own at 7:21.
 
Ray answered with a layup 26 seconds later. But momentum had shifted. Robertson's trey at 6:09 sparked nine unanswered for his squad. That run was capped by Tuoyo's work on the offensive boards, following a Pryor miss with a slam at 5:13.
 
KSU got within five three times, but no closer. Morena's tip-in at 1:47 cut it to 71-66, but the Mocs tightened the defense with three straight stops to end the game and claim the 78-66 win.
 
The Mocs were fantastic on the boards again. They were +13 for the second straight game with a 38-25 advantage. That included 14 offensive rebounds, six by Tuoyo.
 
This was the fourth comeback win when trailing by six or more in the second frame. UTC is 7-1 when holding its opponent to less than 70 points.
 
"Going on a run at the end like we did just got everyone excited," Tuoyo added. "The crowd did a great job helping us out. It felt good. The enthusiasm was through the roof."
 
Chattanooga closes out the three-game, pre-Holiday homestand Tuesday afternoon against Radford at 3 p.m. There is a $10 ticket/meal deal with a general admission ticket accompanied by a voucher for a late lunch.
 
Check the men's basketball schedule page on GoMocs.com for links to tickets, video, audio and live stats. Follow @GoMocsMBB for live tweets from the contest.
 
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs.  The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page or on Twitter.  Find out how to join the UTC Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here.
 
ABOUT CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
- The Mocs are by far the most successful program in the Southern Conference since joining the league in 1977-78. The team has won 28 titles with 10 regular season, 10 tournament and eight division.
- 15 NCAA Tournament Appearances: 1961 (DII), 1973 (DII), 1975 (DII), 1976 (DII Runner-up), 1977 (DII National Champs), 1981, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 (Sweet 16), 2005, 2009
- 10 SoCon Tournament Crowns: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2009
- 10 SoCon Regular Season Championships: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
- 8 Division Titles: 1995, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011
- The 1997 team went to the NCAA Sweet 16 with wins over Georgia and Illinois.
- 5 SoCon Players of the Year: Willie White (1981-82), Keith Nelson (1991-92), Tim Brooks (1992-93), Chad Copeland (1993-94) and Johnny Taylor (1996-97).
- 2 SoCon Defensive Player of the Year: Z. Mason (2014), Justin Tuoyo (2015).
- 3 SoCon Coaches of the Year: Murray Arnold (1982, '83), Mack McCarthy (1986, '92, '93) and Will Wade (2014).
- 9 NBA Draft Picks: Walter "Moose" McGary (1973 & '74), William Gordon (1977), Wayne Golden (1977), Russ Schoene (1982), Nick Morken (1982), Willie White (1984), Gerald Wilkins (1985, 13 seasons) and Johnny Taylor (1997 1st Round).