In their fourth 100-point game of the year, the Southern Utah University men’s basketball team secured a huge overtime win against conference opponent Tarleton State University on Thursday, Jan. 17 in Cedar City. The Thunderbirds fought hard to earn an astounding 106-105 win.
SUU now has a 5-13 overall record and a 1-4 conference record. This game snapped a seven-game losing streak for the T-Birds and gave them their second win against an NCAA opponent.
Tarleton falls to 11-7 overall and 2-3 in conference play. This was their second overtime in the last three games.
First half
The Thunderbirds got off to a great offensive start, making four quick threes to jump out to an early lead. SUU’s defense also started hot, holding the Texans to only four points in the first five minutes of play.
Tarleton State then went on a small run and narrowed the deficit to within three. The Thunderbirds were quick to pull back ahead with threes from Dylan Jones and Roc Lee.
After a short stretch with no points put on the board, the teams traded free throws and two-point scores. Jones broke the streak with his second triple of the night. The teams then went back and forth again, with Tarleton’s Leroy Kelly IV breaking the stretch with a triple this time.
With the half winding down, the Texans scored two threes to shrink the lead before SUU responded with one of their own. Tarleton scored the final points of the half but still trailed 52-44 at the break.
Second half
Tarleton opened by topping off a back-and-forth with a three to shrink the Thunderbirds’ lead to five. The Texans then continued to score, going on a 5-0 run and cutting the deficit to one score. After a rough defensive stretch, the Thunderbirds managed to recover and extend their lead back to nine.
The defensive struggles then returned for Southern Utah, allowing the Texans to go on a 7-0 run and come within a point. With under thirty seconds left in regulation, the Texans took their first lead of the game and were ahead by one.
A foul called on Tarleton sent Jaiden Feroah to the line, where he made both free throws to take the lead back. Shortly after, Feroah was called for a foul with no time left on the clock, giving Tarleton a chance to win the game with two free throws. Luckily for the Thunderbirds, the first one was missed, sending the game into overtime tied at 92-92.
Overtime
The T-Birds came out swinging with a three from Jones and a free throw, but Kaia Isaac hit two shots to tie the game back up. Tanner Hayhurst got fouled and cashed in a three-point play, but two free throws and a steal gave Tarleton State the lead.
With under two minutes left, the teams traded layups until the 15-second mark. A three from Cam McDowell looked like the dagger for the Texans, but Elijah Duval was fouled with two seconds left with a chance to tie the game.
Duval sank the first shot and missed the second, but got the offensive rebound and was fouled with almost no time left. With the entire game on his shoulders, the freshman made both free throws. SUU got a defensive stop in the last two seconds and earned the improbable 106-105 overtime win.
Key stats
— This was SUU’s fourth 100-point game this season and their first against an NCAA opponent. It’s been more than three years since the men’s basketball team scored 100 or more against a Division One team.
— This was also the team’s first overtime game of the season.
— With the win, head coach Rob Jeter now has 250 victories in his collegiate coaching tenure.
— TSU’s Dior Johnson recorded an incredible 40 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal off the bench.
Top T-Birds
— Lorenzo Abellar snagged nine points, a team-leading five assists, a rebound and a steal.
— Feroah led the team with nine rebounds, also recording 17 points, two assists, a block and a steal.
— Hayhurst recorded 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
— Jones had a team-leading 22 points to go along with two rebounds, two assists and two steals. He went 6-11 from three.
— Lee had 14 points, seven rebounds and a steal off the bench.
What’s next?
The Thunderbirds will stay in Cedar City to face Abilene Christian University on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 6:30 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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Authors: Andrew Streeter and Payson Davis
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Editor: Payson Davis
