A poor first half proved fatal as the Southern Utah University men’s basketball team fell to in-state rival Weber State University Thursday at the Dee Events Center, 91-67.
The T-Birds shot just 29.7% from the field and 16.7% from 3-point range in the first half while the Wildcats shot 59.4% and 46.2% respectively.
Forward Maizen Fausett led SUU with 15 points while snagging a season-low three rebounds. Guard Dre Marin followed with 12 points.
Big Sky leading scorer Tevian Jones was held to just nine points on 3-of-10 shooting.
WSU was led by center Cody Carlson, who scored 25 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 77% from the field. Guard Isiah Brown scored 22 points while racking up 7 assists.
The Wildcats opened the game on a 10-0 run and didn’t look back. SUU finally scored four minutes in on a Fausett 3-pointer.
A Jones triple got the T-Birds back within five with 14:23 remaining in the first half, which marked the closest SUU would get to catching the Wildcats.
With 3:21 to go in the first half, the Wildcats pushed their first half lead to 23 thanks to two straight 3-point shots from Brown.
SUU needed a strong second half to cut into the lead, but struggled to make consistent buckets until a miniature Dre Marin burst between the nine and 11 minute mark brought the T-Birds back to within 12.
The Wildcats answered quickly and pushed the lead back up to 20 by the 6:51 mark.
Head coach Todd Simon’s squad struggled to establish a rhythm offensively throughout the game and allowed the Wildcats to shoot a blistering 57% from the field. The Wildcats played sound defense, limiting the T-Birds to just 34.8% from the field for the game and winning the rebounding battle 37-31.
Notable statistics:
- Knight was held scoreless for the first time this season. The guard is the No. 3 in PPG for the T-Birds.
- Aanen Moody has not made a 3-point field goal in four games.
- Nick Fleming recorded five assists, a season high, in just 14 minutes. Fleming played just eight minutes total in his previous two appearances.
The T-Birds and Wildcats face off in Cedar City on Saturday for game two of the series at the America First Event Center. Tip-off is set for 12:00 p.m. and can be viewed on PlutoTV channel 1055.
Story by: Kelton Jacobsen
sports@suunews.net
Photo courtesy of SUU Athletic Department Strategic Communication
