Two of the top teams in the WAC faced off in Cedar City on Thursday night, with the T-birds coming out on top.
The game started out back and forth in the battle of in-state foes, with the sides trading buckets for nearly 15 minutes.
After SUU took a 26-25 lead with just under six minutes to play in the opening half, UVU answered with a quick five points to make the score 30-26.
After the T-birds made a free throw, the Wolverines recorded a 7-0 run to take the first double-digit lead for either team at the 3:03 mark.
Southern Utah battled back before halftime, scoring seven of the next nine points to make the score 39-34 heading into the break.
Second half
The second 20 minutes began much like the first, with the teams trading buckets as UVU’s lead was never more than five points.
With the score tied at 54 with 11 minutes to go, SUU came alive in front of a raucous home crowd.
The T-birds recorded a 9-0 run to take a 63-54 lead, led by five points from Drake Allen, with 8:24 remaining.
After the Wolverines ended the run with a bucket, SUU responded with a pair of free throws and another layup by Allen to take the 67-56 advantage.
UVU momentarily halted the Southern Utah onslaught again with a basket, but the T-birds responded again. Four points from Tevian Jones and a bucket by Maizen Faucett gave the home team a 15-point lead that they would not relinquish.
The Wolverines tried to cut the deficit, but SUU closed out the game for a 79-67 victory.
Tevian Jones led the way for Southern Utah, tallying 20 points. Drake Allen added 17 in the win, while Maizen Faucett recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
UVU was led by 16 points from Justin Harmon, and Aziz Bandaogo added a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds.
The biggest takeaway of the second half was perhaps the SUU defense. After UVU shot 56.7% from the field in the opening frame, the T-birds’ defense held the Wolverines to just 38.7% in half number two while turning a 10-point deficit into a 12-point win.
With the win, SUU moves into a tie atop the WAC standings with UVU, sporting a 7-2 league record.
Up next
Southern Utah
The T-birds (15-7, 7-2 WAC) will start the second half of WAC action with a trip to Cal Baptist.
SUU will face the Lancers on Wednesday, February 1 at 7 p.m. MT, while the game can be seen on ESPN+.
Utah Valley
The Wolverines (16-6, 7-2 WAC) will return to Orem to battle New Mexico State next.
UVU will take on the Aggies on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m., with the game being available on ESPN+.
