Playing their second game in two days, the T-birds defeated the Idaho Vandals 82-67 in San Diego to improve to 6-1.
Southern Utah led from start to finish in the game, jumping out to a 13-6 lead five minutes in. The Vandals cut the deficit down to three a few moments later, but the Thunderbirds finished the first half on an 8-0 run to take a 17-point lead into the halftime break (42-25).
Idaho cut the SUU lead to 12 (42-30) in the opening minute of the second period, but they would never get any closer. The T-birds pushed their lead up to 20 on multiple occasions – leading by as many as 22 – and ultimately cruised to a 15-point victory, 82-67.
Southern Utah shot a blistering 56.6 percent from the field in the win (30-of-56), highlighted by a 57.9 percent clip from three (11-of-19). The T-birds also won the rebounding battle, edging the Vandals 33-24.
Jamir Simpson led SUU in scoring, tallying 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting. Dominique Ford added 14 points, as 13 total players stepped on the court for the Thunderbirds.
With the victory on Saturday afternoon, the T-birds are off to a 6-1 start, their best start to a season since a 9-1 mark in 2020-21.
Thunderbirds top Trailblazers in ‘Battle for the Axe’ double overtime thriller
Up next
Southern Utah (6-1) returns to the Golden State, where it will face Big Ten Conference member UCLA on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
The T-birds vs. Bruins matchup will begin at 8 p.m. MT and be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.
Photo courtesy of SUU Athletics.
