In the first home game of the season, the Southern Utah University men’s basketball team faced the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Saturday, Nov. 8 in the America First Event Center. The Vaqueros led for most of the game and won 95-72.
Both teams entered the matchup looking for their first win of the 2025-26 season. Since joining the same conference in 2022, SUU has recorded a 3-1 record against UTRGV. The last time the teams faced each other, SUU narrowly fell to the Vaqueros by just five points.
First half
UTRGV guard Marvin McGhee III scored the first points of the game with a clean three-pointer. Southern Utah responded with two jump shots by Jaiden Feroah and a layup by Isaiah Cottrell, taking the lead. McGhee III tied the game with another three, sparking a Vaquero run that carried through most of the game.
Southern Utah showed snippets of momentum, keeping the score close with a three from Dylan Jones and rebounds by Feroah. Following that, UTRGV made four three-pointers, launching the Vaqueros to a 12-point lead.
Feroah and Cottrell highlighted SUU’s offense with powerful dunks that left the crowd hopeful for the second half. They trailed UTRGV at the half, 40-35.
Second half
The Thunderbirds missed two wide-open layups to start the second half, and the Vaqueros capitalized. SUU didn’t score its first points of the second half until the 15:42 mark, but the lead was already up to 17 for UTRGV. The Thunderbirds were struggling to come back.
Southern Utah fought to keep the energy up, with Feroah throwing down a dunk and Cottrell adding another highlight play, but UTRGV’s accuracy and aggressiveness were too much. The Vaqueros hardly missed their three-pointers, shooting 75%, while SUU shot 33%.
The Thunderbirds converted nine points off 11 UTRGV fouls, but McGhee III came back with intensity, reaching 30 points on the night to go along with 10 rebounds. Southern Utah ended the game with a layup by Cale Barclay as the Vaqueros won 95-72.
Top T-Birds
— Feroah led the Thunderbirds with 24 points on 8-12 shooting, as well as 10 rebounds and 8 blocks, the second-most blocks in a game in SUU history and the most since 2007.
— Cottrell contributed seven points, two rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
— Jones added nine points and three rebounds, with every point coming from a three-pointer
— Elijah Duval had nine points, four assists, two rebounds and two steals in 22 minutes.
Looking ahead
SUU will remain in Cedar City to host Bethesda University on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the America First Event Center.
Author: Holly Zaremba
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Payson Davis
