FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- The Thunderbird men's basketball team played a tightly contested rematch with the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks on Monday afternoon on the road, but ultimately fell to their Grand Canyon rivals in overtime 80-77.
With 3:52 to play in the contest the Thunderbirds trailed by six, but were able to erase the deficit at the free throw line and with an Andre Adams layup. After tying up the score, Cameron Oluyitan hit a layup with 1:49 to play to put the T-Birds up two. Just 13 seconds later the Lumberjacks tied up the contest with a layup of their own at 68-68.
Neither team scored for the final minute and a half of play, resulting in overtime.
Much like the rest of the contest, the overtime period was tightly contested with the Lumberjacks leading by just three with six seconds to play. The T-Birds got a three point attempt up, but it was unable to draw iron resulting in a Lumberjack victory.
"We didn't execute when it was time to execute there in the last little stretch," SUU head coach Todd Simon said. "They made the plays and we didn't, and that's how it goes especially on the road."
The T-Birds were previously 2-0 in overtime games this season, but fell to 2-1 after today's result. Overall, the T-Birds moved to 9-9 with the loss and 4-5 in the Big Sky.
Adams had a career day for the Thunderbirds, finishing with a career high 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field. He also secured a double-double with 10 boards. The big man finished the game 5-of-6 from the free throw line as well.
"He did a nice job cleaning up around the basket and that's what we need from him every game, he's a very good talent," Simon said.
Brandon Better knocked home 18 points thanks to five triples, and Cameron Oluyitan was the third T-Bird to score in double-figures with 14 points in 39 minutes of play.
In total the contest featured 10 ties and 14 lead changes.
The Thunderbirds will wrap up their four game road swing next weekend when they face off against Eastern Washington (February 2) and Idaho (February 4). The T-Birds will return home on February 7 to host in-state rival Weber State.
"We've got to find some toughness," Simon said looking forward. "14 offensive rebounds was the difference in the game and we've got to clean that up. We'll get back to the drawing board and get back to work."
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