Northern Colorado Downs T-Birds

            HONOLULU, Hawaii, Nov. 15 - Will Figures scored 20 points to lead four Northern Colorado players in double figures as the Bears handed Southern Utah its second loss at Hawaii's Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic Sunday, 73-51.

            UNC scored 10 straight points late in the first half to turn an eight-point game into an 18-point affair and although the Thunderbirds got back within 14 on several occasions in the second half they were never able to get back within striking distance.

            Matt Massey scored 17 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead Southern Utah, while Davis Baker finished with 10 points.

            Southern Utah won the battle of the boards, 35-27, and out-shot UNC by over two percentage points (45.0-42.9) but turned the ball over 31 times, including 19 in the first half.

            "You can't turn the ball over 19 times in a half and expect to win a basketball game," SUU Coach Roger Reid said. "We did a better job in the second half, but our goal is 12 turnovers in a game, not 12 in a half.

            "We're learning though," he added. "We've got some things we've got to work on, but we're going to get better."

            Southern Utah wraps up the tournament Monday night when the Thunderbirds meet McNeese State at 7:00 p.m. (HST).

-- SUU --