Both SUU basketball teams were in action at home on Saturday. The men’s team remained perfect with a victory over Nebraska-Omaha, while the women’s team remained winless in a defeat to Idaho.
Here are recaps of both games, beginning with the men’s basketball team’s victory over the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks.
Men’s basketball
For the first time in program history, the SUU men’s basketball team is off to a 4-0 start following a close win on Saturday night.
The first half was a tight affair, as neither side led by more than six through just over 16 minutes of action.
Luckily for the fans in attendance, it would be Southern Utah that would build its biggest lead of the half first. Using three three-pointers over the final minutes, the T-birds would take a nine-point lead into the halftime break, 41-32.
The second frame started much like the first ended, as a Dominique Ford trey gave the home team its first double-digit lead on the half’s first shot attempt (44-32).
After the Mavericks cut the deficit to eight (44-36), SUU answered with a 9-0 run – led by three straight Jamir Simpson buckets – to push the lead to 17 (53-36).
Southern Utah would take a 20-point lead with under 10 minutes to play (67-47), and it seemed the home team was on its way to a comfortable win.
Omaha had other ideas, however, ripping off a 14-0 run to cut the deficit to six (67-61) with 4:40 on the clock.
The Mavericks nearly pulled off the improbable comeback – making it a two-point game with just 31 seconds remaining – but the T-birds would make six free throws in the final moments to secure the 79-73 victory.
Jamir Simpson led all scorers in the game, totaling 25 points and adding 5 rebounds. Dominique Ford added 22 in the win, while Jamari Sibley chipped in a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Coach Jeter postgame
Up next
After opening the season with four straight home games, the T-birds (4-0) will head out on the road for the next four.
First, Southern Utah will face Loyola-Chicago, last season’s Atlantic 10 regular-season co-champions, on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. MT.
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Women’s basketball
Hosting the Idaho Vandals on Saturday afternoon, the SUU women’s basketball team dropped to 0-4 on the season while suffering a 66-53 defeat.
Idaho would jump ahead early, taking a 17-10 lead late in the opening period. The T-birds would answer with five straight points to cut the deficit to two (17-15) to end the quarter.
The second quarter was back-and-forth, as SUU first pushed its advantage to six (25-19) before the Vandals clawed back to tie the score at 30. Daylani Ballena hit a three-pointer with 47 seconds left to put the T-birds ahead 33-30 at the halftime break.
Using a 16-8 third quarter, Idaho came from behind again to retake the lead entering the final period (46-41).
Southern Utah’s cold shooting continued into the fourth quarter, as the Vandals would continue to create distance between the teams. In the end, the visitors would emerge with a 66-53 win and keep the Thunderbirds searching for their first victory of the season.
Sydney Gandy led the T-birds in defeat, tallying 12 points. Daylani Ballena added 11 in the loss.
As a team, SUU shot an abysmal 31.7 percent from the field (19-of-60) while scoring only 18 points in the paint. The T-birds also turned the ball over 19 times and did not register a single fast-break point in the loss.
Coach Mason postgame
Up next
SUU (0-4) continues its three-game homestand, first facing Saint Joseph’s of the Atlantic 10 Conference as they look for their first win of the campaign.
The T-birds and Hawks will clash on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at 6:30 p.m. MT, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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