FT.
WAYNE, Ind., Jan. 14 - Deilvez Yearby scored 19 points but none were bigger
than his 3-point play with 1:28 to play Thursday night as IPFW came back from a
50-42 deficit in the final four minutes to break Southern Utah's collective
heart with a 61-56 win.
Southern
Utah led throughout the game, by as many as nine in the first half and by eight
after Davis Baker's jumper in the lane with 4:07 to play, but Yearby and Ben
Botts hit 3-pointers, - and Yearby scored eight of his points - as the Mastodons
outscored SUU 17-6 down the
stretch, including 8-2 in the final 1:28.
The
big play came when Baker, standing at the top of the key, looked to the bench
for a play. IPFW's Zach Plackemeier stripped him and got the ball to Yearby on
the break. Yearby was fouled by Baker as he threw down a thunderous jam to tie
the game at 54-54, then converted the free throw to give the 'Dons their first
lead of the game.
Although
SUU got the lead back on another Baker jumper, the Thunderbirds were visibly
deflated and weren't able to score in the final minute. Meanwhile, IPFW scored
the final six points to claim the five-point win.
"We
all feel really deflated by this loss," SUU Coach Roger Reid said. "We did a
great job defensively all game but in the last couple of minutes they had a
couple of experienced guys step up. They got a great play from a senior
[Yearby] and some big shots from [Ben] Botts and we just weren't able to give
them an answer. They did a good job defensively on us down the stretch.
"I
feel badly for our guys but that's part of having a young team," Reid added.
"We've got to learn how to win close games, we can't be afraid to make things
happen."
Southern
Utah led by as may as nine in the first half, but after taking a 20-11 lead on
a Ryan Brimley jumper with 6:42 to go the team went without a point for over
three minutes, allowing IPFW to pull to within 20-18. SUU out-scored the 'Dons
8-4 in the final three minutes to lead 28-22 at the break, however.
Baker
led all scorers with 23 points while Matt Hodgson added 12 and eight rebounds
for the Thunderbirds. Trey McCorkle finished with 14 points and eight boards
while Botts finished with 11 points. Yearby had 11 rebounds.
Southern
Utah out-rebounded the 'Dons 41-to-40 and held them to 35.5 percent shooting
(22-of-62). IPFW is the 12th team the Thunderbirds have held below
43 percent but SUU struggled as well, converting just 22-of-57 opportunities
(.386), including just 2-of-6 in the final four minutes.
The
Thunderbirds also had a season-low 13 turnovers, with two of those coming down
the stretch.
SUU
dipped to 5-12 overall and 1-5 in Summit League play while IPFW improved to 2-4
in league play and 7-9 overall.
The
Thunderbirds play at league-leading Oakland Saturday night .
-- SUU --
