CEDAR CITY, Utah – Southern Utah men's basketball topped Arkansas-Fort Smith 38-34 at halftime before falling to the Lions by one in the final minute.

Arkansas-Fort Smith took an eight-point run to tip off game before the Thunderbirds bounced back with a nine-point rally to take their first lead of the night, 9-8. Both teams battled through the first half with SUU breaking ahead to a 38-34 lead at halftime.

Sophomore Trey Kennedy lead the T-Birds in the first half with nine points as junior Casey Oliverson chipped in eight. Cal Hanks totaled two blocks in the half.

The Lions clenched a six-point run to launch the second half to take a 40-38 lead over the Thunderbirds. Southern Utah trailed 66-61 before a five-point run for the T-Birds tied up the game at 66.

“In terms of the type of ball game I thought it was an excellent game. Arkansas-Fort Smith is extremely well coached. They're a very good basketball team,” Coach Robinson said. “For us down the stretch, great execution defensively and offensively. It was a great basketball game and we appreciate everybody that came out.”

Freshman James McGee nailed a shot from beyond the arch to give Southern Utah a one-point lead with 27 seconds remaining before UAFS knocked in two free throws to take the lead and seal the game, 73-72.

Kennedy lead the game with 14 points with Travon Langston adding nine. 

“We executed most of the time. They're a good team,” junior Casey Oliverson commented. “Our confidence is high. We have Kansas State coming up and we have to be confident for that.”

The Thunderbirds enter preseason play by traveling to Manhattan where they will take on Kansas State on Friday, November 14, at 7 p.m. Live Stats will be available at suutbirds.com.