In the wake of a three-game losing streak, the Southern Utah University men’s basketball team headed to face the University of Texas at Arlington on Thursday, Jan. 30.
SUU fought hard but dropped the game 70-68, losing their fourth straight and falling to 9-12 and 1-6 in the Western Athletic Conference. UTA, with the win, improves to 10-11 and 3-4 in the WAC.
First half
Southern Utah started the game off once again without starters Tavi Jackson and Dominique Ford. The game was back and forth but where UTA had an advantage was on the offensive glass pulling down 11 rebounds which turned into 10 second-chance points.
Lance Ware got into double digits and was a massive part of the Mavericks crafting a lead. UTA seemed more comfortable and got into an offensive rhythm early going up 10 points and maintaining that lead for the remainder of the half. UT Arlington found themselves up 36-25 at the half.
Second half
The Thunderbirds came out hot, hitting seven straight shots and that production came largely from Jamir Simpson. The 11-point lead quickly diminished to a one-point lead due to the hot shooting from SUU. With 10 minutes left, Southern Utah took their first lead since early in the first half.
In the last five minutes, both teams traded the lead multiple times and it came down to the wire. The lead changed 11 times throughout the match.
Ware tied his career high, the first time he had hit that mark since his first game for UTA when he set that mark at 26 points.
For both sides, the offensive production came from the starters, with the bench scoring a combined 24 of the 138 total points.
Key statistics
— Ware led all scorers with 26 points
— Brock Felder had 13 rebounds
—Simpson led SUU with 20 points on 8/17 shooting.
What’s next?
SUU will stay on the road as they play Tarleton State University on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 6 p.m. You can watch the game live-streamed on ESPN+.
Author: Preston Ferry
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Jack Paul
