The Thunderbirds (7-16, 3-9 Summit League) owned a one-point lead with 1:30 remaining after senior guard Ryan Brimley's three but UMKC (14-9, 7-5 Summit League) answered with a driving layup and added four free throws to hold off SUU.

Freshman forward Kyle Davis notched his fourth double-double of the season with team-highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds while junior forward Matt Massey finished with 16 points and seven boards. Southern Utah shot 40 percent for the game but was held to 32 percent in the second half while UMKC shot 50 percent in the final 20 minutes and knocked down 10 three's during the game. The Kangaroos also had three players score in double-figures, including a pair that produced 22-point.

Both teams knocked down shots in the opening minutes with the Thunderbirds holding a five-point lead just over six minutes in after a dunk by sophomore forward Jackson Stevenett. UMKC slowly chipped away at SUU lead by using the three-ball to take a short-lived two-point advantage midway through the half.

Southern Utah would regain the lead with a 7-0 run as Ryan Brimley's layin opened up a five-point lead with 6:36 remaining. Another UMKC three and a rebound tip-in for the Kangaroos tied the game 26-26 at the four-minute mark.

Sophomore guard Damon Heuir gave the Thunderbirds a 33-31 halftime lead after stealing a UMKC pass underneath the Roos basket and laying one in with six seconds remaining. Davis had eight points to SUU who shot 48 percent through the first 20 minutes while UMKC knocked down 42 percent of its shots, including six threes in the first half.

The Kangaroos hit their first two shots of the second half but the Thunderbirds countered with a 7-1 spurt to own a 42-37 lead at the 16:35 mark. UMKC was able to tie the game with a couple free throws before junior point guard Ray Jones Jr. put SUU up 48-46 on a rebound putback.

Southern Utah would open its lead up to five, 58-53 on a pair of free throws by junior guard Jake Nielson but UMKC would again get within one, after knocking down two from the charity stripe. The next time down the Roos again went to the three-ball, hitting one to take a 61-60 lead with 5:30 remaining. UMKC would add another three minutes later to cap their 12-4, giving them a 65-62 lead at the 3:44 mark.

Davis continued to battle down low and attack the rim, either finish with a layin or get fouled. He hit one free throw to cut the UMKC lead to 65-63 and minutes later Brimley came off a screen at the top of key and knocked down a three to give SUU a one point lead, 66-65 with just over a minute remaining.

The Thunderbirds got a stop on the defensive end but missed on the offensive end that saw players scramble for rebound and UMKC came away with rebound before getting fouled. They would only hit one of two to take a 68-66 lead with 43 seconds remaining.

On the ensuing possession, Jones Jr. drove the length of the floor and got into the paint and missed his runner in the lane but got his own rebound and was fouled. He missed both free throws and SUU was forced to foul. UMKC's leading scorer Jay Couisnard calmly hit both free throws to open up a 70-66 lead with 21 seconds remaining.

Jones Jr. was again fouled on SUU's inbounds play and made both free throw attempts to again make it a two-point game. Couisnard was then fouled but only hit one of two at the line, giving UMKC a 71-68 lead and SUU one more chance with 19 seconds remaining

The Thunderbirds got one last look but Brimley's contested three hit off the front rim and the battle for the rebound was knocked out of bounds by SUU with virtually no time left on the clock, giving UMKC the win.

Brimley finished with 12 points while Jones Jr. added nine points and six rebounds for the Thunderbirds.

Southern Utah continues its homestand next Thursday, hosting Centenary College at 7 p.m. in the Centrum Arena.