In their first game of 2026, the Southern Utah University men’s basketball team will head home to Cedar City to face the University of Texas at Arlington on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 6:30 p.m in the America First Event Center.
This game will also be streamed live on ESPN+.
Southern Utah
Playing their first game at home since Dec. 1, the Thunderbirds are hoping to start the year off right and snap their four-game losing streak. SUU currently holds a record of 4-10 with a Western Athletic Conference record of 0-1.
Throughout two seasons, the T-Birds went 8-23 over the previous calendar year. They won just three games on the road in all of 2025 and have gone 1-9 on the road this season.
Despite two strong showings from beyond the three-point line in December, Southern Utah is still struggling at the arc. They shoot 30.9% from three while allowing opponents to shoot 37.6%.
While SUU started the season dominating opponents in rebounding and blocks, those numbers have begun to plateau. The T-Birds will need to reassert their presence in the paint and on defense in order to turn the season around in 2026.
UT Arlington
The Mavericks hold a 9-5 record after starting the season 6-2. They are 1-1 in the WAC.
UT Arlington is one of the few teams in the conference with worse shooting numbers than SUU from three. They have shot 29.1% from downtown but hold opponents to an even worse 24.3%.
UTA is led by forward Raysean Seamster. The senior from Portland, Oregon leads his team in points, rebounds and blocks while ranking second in assists and steals. His all-around impact on the game will have to be contained in order for SUU to snatch a win.
SUU is 2-3 against UT Arlington all-time. Every matchup between the teams has been decided by 10 points or fewer.
Author: Payson Davis
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Jack Paul