CEDAR CITY, Utah - Sophomore guard Jordan Weirick came off the bench to score a team-high 17 points for Southern Utah University but suffered a 68-65 exhibition defeat to University of Montana Western in the Thunderbirds' exhibition opener.

Weirick also grabbed eight rebounds and junior center Matt Massey added 12 points and seven boards for the Thunderbirds. The Bulldogs, playing their fifth game of the season, Three UMW players scored in double figures, led by Brandon Brown who finished with a game-high 25 points with seven assists.

"We turned the ball over way too many times tonight but I thought that was because of the guys trying to do a little too much combined with some first game rust," commented head coach Roger Reid. "I was pleased to see Jordan come out and shoot the ball well and provide a real bright spot for us tonight."

Montana Western attacked the rim early and used some defensive pressure to force a couple of early Thunderbird turnovers, knocking away a entry passes to deny SUU's attempt to the use a height advantage of the 6-11 Matt Hodgson. The Bulldogs would take a 12-4 lead just over six minutes in, using two early threes from Brown and another from Tyler Hurley to jump out to the early advantage.

Junior Matt Massey got the Thunderbirds going later in the half, igniting a 10-2 run with a long step-back jumper that Ramell Taylor followed with a jumper from the left elbow. SUU then forced a turnover and Massey added another bucket on a nice left-handed drive and finish at the basket. Seconds after entering the game, sophomore Tyson Koehler hit a fall-away eight foot jumper and junior Ray Jones Jr. capped the run with a fast break layup to tie the game at 17-17 with 9:24 left.

Montana Western later used a pair of threes helped to push their lead to four but SUU's Damon Heuir answered with a baseline drive, going up and under for the lay up on the right side. The next time down the floor, Weirick's old fashioned three-point play gave SUU its first lead of the ball game, 25-23 with just over four minutes remaining in the half.

Both teams would trade buckets in the closing minutes as Weirick's long three gave SUU a 30-28 lead but Brown's jumper from the top of the key in the closing seconds sent the game into half time tied at 30-30.

Weirick led the Thunderbirds with 10 first-half points as SUU shot 12-of-22 (54.5%) from the floor but committed 12 turnovers. The Bulldogs kept themselves in the game by launching from long distance, hitting 7-17 (41.2%) from behind the arc in the half.

Both teams traded baskets in the early minutes of the second half until Massey battled for a rebound and put one back and Weirick added a long two from the top of the key to give SUU a 47-42 advantage at the 10:23 mark.

UMW continued to answer as Brown attacked the basket to tie things up and Jared Smithson hit a three to regain the lead at 50-47 with just over eight minutes remaining.

SUU took advantage of hits height to put together a run as Kyle Davis grabbed a rebound and put one back and Hodgson worked hard for a rebound, muscled up a shot and was able to convert at the line after being fouled. The next time down Hodgson again grabbed a rebound and finished with a two-handed slam to five the Thunderbirds a 59-56 lead with 5:44 left on the clock.

UMW would take the lead minutes later on a couple lay ups and then convert on their foul shots down the stretch to hold off the Thunderbirds. SUU would get lay ups from Jones Jr. and Taylor in the closing seconds but the Bulldogs matched the baskets to earn the 68-65 win.

Hodgson finished with nine points and nine rebounds for the Thunderbirds who finished shooting 27of-59 (45.8%) from the floor and a 50-28 rebound advantage.

"I was very pleased with our rebounding effort tonight," Reid added. "We need to continue to execute. We got a little out of character tonight in turning the ball over so much but we will get back to work on Monday and prepare to come out Wednesday and play better basketball."

Southern Utah will play its second and final exhibition game on Wednesday, hosting Carroll College at 7:00 p.m. in the Centrum.