The Thunderbirds (7-15) beat the Roadrunners (9-13) for the second time this season after having three players produce double-digit scoring efforts and shoot 51 percent from the floor. Southern Utah held CSUB to 34 percent shooting, forced them to commit 19 turnovers and blocked seven Roadrunner shots.

Senior guard Ryan Brimley led the way for Southern Utah with 14 points and matched Taylor with six boards while junior forward Matt Massey scored 10 points in the Thunderbirds final non-conference game of the season. SUU five of their final six free throw attempts in the final minute to hold off the Roadrunners after they had twice cut the Thunderbird lead to one in the final 35 seconds.

"We will take the win over a quality opponent anytime," commented SUU head coach Roger Reid. "We hung in there in a close game and came away with a win at home. I thought Ramell played with great enthusiasm, really worked hard on the boards and made some big baskets for us down the stretch."

Southern Utah opened the game with a 63 percent shooting effort in a sloppy first half that saw each team commit double-digit turnovers. After trading baskets in the opening minutes, Massey and sophomore forward Jackson Stevenett combined to produce a 10-2 run for the Thunderbirds who opened up a 22-13 lead at the 7:14 mark. Massey scored six points during that stretch and finished the half leading all scorers with eight points.

CSUB struggled shooting throughout the half but took advantage of some Thunderbird turnovers and closed the half with a 7-2 run to cut the SUU lead to 29-27 at the half. Despite committing 13 turnovers, Southern Utah used an impressive defensive effort to hold the lead at half after holding the Roadrunners to 24 percent shooting through the first 20 minutes.

The Thunderbirds traded buckets with CSUB in the opening minutes of the second half as the Roadrunners cut the lead to one before SUU answered with a 14-2 run. Three treys by Brimley highlighted the run, opening up a 45-34 lead, the largest of the game for the Thunderbirds.

The Roadrunners continued to battle, using a 6-0 run before trading baskets for most of the second half before again cutting the lead to one, 51-50 with 4:27 remaining.

Massey later hit a pair of free throws and Taylor finished on a layup while getting fouled and gave SUU a six-point advantage with the free throw.

The Roadrunners quickly erased that lead by grabbing a number of offensive rebounds and converting on the second chance opportunities, producing another 6-0 spurt over a two minute stretch to even the game at 56-56 with 1:54 left on the clock.

Following a timeout, Taylor again attacked the basket, finishing at the rim with dunk and while getting fouled and knocked to ground. The foul was the fifth against Stephon Carter, fouling out CSUB's leading scorer with 1:33 remaining. Taylor would miss the free throw, resulting in a 58-56 SUU lead.

CSUB's Alex Johnson found himself at the line with 35 seconds left but was only able to hit one, cutting the lead to one. The Roadrunners were then forced to foul Jones Jr. who hit both free throws to give SUU a 60-57 lead with 27 seconds remaining.

CSUB came right back down the floor and drew foul and Donavan Bragg hit a pair of free throws to cut the Thunderbirds lead to 60-59 with 19 seconds remaining, The Roadrunners immediately fouled again but Brimley hit both free throws to again build a three-point lead. On the ensuing possession, the Roadrunners were whistled for a moving screen, giving the ball back to the Thunderbirds with 10 seconds remaining. Brimley was again fouled and hit one of two free throws to ice the game for SUU with the four-point lead.

Freshman forward Kyle Davis chipped in with nine points and Jones Jr. finished with seven points and six rebounds. Carter led CSUB with 14 points.

The Thunderbirds resume Summit League play on Saturday, hosting UMKC at 7:30 p.m. in the Centrum Arena.