Coming off a big loss to University of California, Los Angeles, the Southern Utah University men’s basketball team will play on their home court to take on California State University, Bakersfield. The game will take place on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 6:30 p.m., and can be streamed on ESPN+.
Southern Utah has met with the Roadrunners four times in school history and split the matchups evenly at 2-2.
Southern Utah
The Thunderbirds have started the season strong with a record 6-2. They are scoring 78.9 points per game: shooting 46.6% from the field, 35.7% from three-point range and 71.9% from the free-throw line. They also have a solid defense, only allowing 64.8 ppg, while averaging 5.1 steals and blocks per contest. The biggest key to victory for the team is reducing their turnovers, as they currently average 14.3 in each game.
Jamir Simpson has been leading the offensive charge for SUU, averaging 16.1 points and four rebounds on 45.5% shooting. He has scored 20 or more points in four of his last five games. Defending along with Simpson is guard Dominique Ford. He averages 13 points per game and shoots 90% from the free-throw line.
Tavi Jackson has been a great perimeter defender and averages a team-high of 1.1 steals per game. Other notable defenders are Brock Felder and Jamari Sibley who hold down the paint, averaging 1.5 and 1.1 blocks respectively.
Bakersfield
The Roadrunners have started the season 4-3 and have similar stats to the Thunderbirds. They average 78.6 points: shooting 45.6% from the field, 38.2% from three and 74.4% on free throws. Their defense gets an impressive 6.1 steals and 3.1 blocks per game, allowing their opponents to score 64.2 points per game.
Heading the offense is guard Jemel Jones. He averages 16.4 points on nearly 50% shooting. Fellow guard Corey Stephenson is another strong threat on offense, averaging 15.5 points a game and a team-leading 5.5 rebounds on a strong 56.1% shooting.
Forward Fidelis Okereke is great at altering shots for opposing teams and does it all by himself down low, averaging two blocks in each matchup, while Kadar Walker makes his presence felt on the perimeter averaging 1.4 steals per game.
The Roadrunners will need other players to step up on defense as the Thunderbirds have a great slashing-guard duo that will be hard for Okereke to defend by himself.
Author: Jacob McQueary
Photographer: Margaux Feret
Editor: Jack Paul
