In the midst of a five-game losing streak, the Southern Utah University men’s basketball team will head on the road to face Utah Valley University on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 6 p.m.
This game will also be streamed live on ESPN+.
Southern Utah
It’s been a less-than-stellar start to conference play for the Thunderbirds. They hold a 4-11 record, have lost their first two Western Athletic Conference games and have dropped five contests in a row.
In their last 12 matchups, SUU has only had three home games. They’ve gone 1-9 on the road this season and now find themselves on another road trip after a quick stop in Cedar City.
The T-Birds are heading to face a powerhouse in UVU, who have earned a 7-0 home record. The team holds opponents to under 30% from three, which could be trouble for an SUU offense that’s struggled beyond the arc.
A strong performance from stars will be needed for SUU to take the underdog victory. Dec. 14 was the last time any T-Bird scored more than 13 points.
Utah Valley
The Wolverines have a WAC-best 12-4 record and are 2-1 against conference opponents. They boast a better record than some nationally-ranked programs.
Utah Valley dominates opponents, leading them heavily in rebounds, assists and blocks. They also have a huge shooting margin, going 52.2% from the field and 35.6% from three while holding opponents to under 40% and 30% respectively.
UVU continues a trend with recent SUU opponents, having a clear all-around star in Jackson Holcombe. The sophomore from Charleston, South Carolina leads his team in points, rebounds, steals and blocks while ranking second in assists.
Southern Utah is 7-9 against Utah Valley all-time. While the T-Birds lost the last four matches, they won six of the previous seven dating back to 2015.
Author: Payson Davis
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Briar Adams
