Cedar City, Utah - The Thunderbird men's basketball team played another tough contest on Tuesday night inside the Centrum Arena, falling to Cal State Fullerton 80–66.

The Titans jumped out to an early 11–2 lead over the Thunderbirds, but SUU started to pick it up offensively as the half progressed and pulled even with CSUF at 20–20. However, the Titans would end the half on an 8–0 run to take a 28–20 lead into the halftime.

Both teams started going offensively in the second half, heating up especially from behind the three-point line. The two teams played close throughout, but with 4:03 to play the Titans took an 11 point lead and despite a solid fight from SUU, they were able to pull away and eventually take the game 80–66.

“We got off to a slow start offensively but I thought that we maintained pretty good defensive discipline throughout the first half,” SUU head coach Nick Robinson said. “Fullerton hit some big threes at crucial times for us, but they were able to sustain their lead throughout the game. I thought we showed good toughness in battling back consistently throughout the night, but ultimately we turned it over at a couple of points in time where we just weren't as secure with the basketball as we needed to be and they took advantage of those opportunities.”

Guard James McGee led the team in scoring with 18, hitting six shots from behind the three-point line. Travon Langston finished the game with a double-double, scoring 17 points and pulling in 10 rebounds. Casey Oliverson had a near double-double, with 16 points and nine rebounds.

Coach Robinson said McGee played well in the offensive system on Tuesday night.

“He allowed Southern Utah basketball to be effective for him,” he said. “He relaxed, he allowed the ball to move, he made wide open shots. That's what James does.”

Oliverson said the team's mindset is still positive at this point of the season.

“We just need to get refocused,” he said. “Play the way we know how to play, not worry about being 0–4. We're going to Kentucky next, we need to worry about that game.”

Cal State Fullerton's leading scorer Tre' Coggins finished the game with 25 points and seven rebounds. Khalil Ahmad had a big game as well, scoring 22 points.

The two teams got into a scuffle near the end of regulation, resulting in SUU's Paris Davis being ejected from the contest and Coggins and Ahmad given technicals.

The Thunderbirds will head out on the road next to face Eastern Kentucky. That game is set to tip at 11 a.m. and can be heard over the airwaves on KSUB 590.