The Southern Utah University Men’s Basketball team hosts Drake University in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament tonight at 6:30 p.m.
This is the first postseason game the team has hosted since the school joined Division 1 in 1988. Their 16-16 record is their best since 2011-12, and SUU will look for their first ever postseason victory.
Co-Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year Cameron Oluyitan leads the T-Birds with 12.8 PPG. Senior guard Brandon Better is averaging 12.0 PPG and Andre Adams is averaging 10.2. Freshman wing Harrison Butler has come on strong toward the end of the season and is averaging 10.1 PPG.
SUU has been very good at home this season. Their 10-3 home record stands as the first time the team has won 10 home games since 2009.
Drake is coming off of perhaps their best season in program history. Their 24-9 record was enough to win a share of the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship. The Bulldogs bowed out of the conference tournament on a last second layup against Northern Illinois.
Senior forward Nick McGlynn was named first team all-conference for his regular season performance. He scored 15.2 PPG this season under the tutelage of MVC Coach of the Year Darian DeVries.
The Bulldogs were forced to overcome adversity after starting guard Nick Norton tore his ACL and was lost for the season. His backcourt partner D.J. Wilkins broke a bone in his ankle days before the conference tournament and was also forced to sit out the rest of the season.
Senior guard Brady Ellingson has been forced to step up in their place. He’s averaging 11.8 PPG on 48 percent shooting from three.
Drake has also received an important contribution from their other star forward Tremell Murphy. Murphy is averaging 10.4 PPG on 52 percent shooting from the field.
Victory will not come easy for the T-Birds. Drake has a very good team, but has undergone some adversity due to injuries. Their conference produced a 13-seeded Vermont team that pushed Florida State in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
The game will be held at 6 p.m. in the America First Events Center. The game will be broadcast at watchcit.com and on KSUB 590 AM radio.
Story by: Connor Sanders
sports@suunews.net
Photo courtesy of SUU Athletics Strategic Communication
