CEDAR CITY, Utah -- For the first time since November 29, 1999, the Thunderbird men's basketball team knocked off the Montana Grizzlies at home, topping their Big Sky foe 64-63.
The Thunderbirds are now 2-1 on the season and 1-0 in Big Sky Conference play.
With just two seconds left on the clock, John Knight III went to the free throw line and split the pair to put the Thunderbirds up by one, and the Griz were unable to connect on a halfcourt heave.
"We weren't hitting shots, and that has a lot to do with Montana doing a good job, but we just committed to getting down hill and forcing the action, spacing guys out and trying to get to the paint," SUU head coach Todd Simon said following the contest. "Obviously we've got to make more free throws, make more shots, but that's a very good ball club. For 30 minutes they were better than USC the other day. That's a good team, and you beat them by only having nine turnovers and getting 13 offensive rebounds."
With the victory, coach Simon secured the second-most wins as a head coach in the team's Division I history sitting at 55.
After Tevian Jones hit a triple to start the game for SUU, the Griz took the lead and held on to it for the entirety of the opening half. They built their lead to as many as 11 during that stretch and took a six point lead into the half.
Dre Marin tied the contest at 40-40 with 14:02 to play in the second half, but the Griz quickly built back up a seven point lead.
Over the final four minutes neither team led by more than two, until Marin got to the free throw line with 41 seconds to play to put the T-Birds up three. Montana rescinded with a Josh Vazquez triple, but left enough time on the clock for the Thunderbirds to get to the free throw line and secure the victory.
Knight III finished the game with 21 points, nine rebounds, three steals and three assists. The nine rebounds he finished with was also the team lead on the evening.
Maizen Fausett finished the game with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting.
Southern Utah finished the game 26-of-40 from the free throw line, but made the ones that mattered to secure the victory.
The T-Birds held a 15-0 advantage in terms of points off turnovers. Montana's bench outscored Southern Utah's 37-10.
Montana held the lead for over 31 minutes.
The Thunderbirds and Grizzlies will continue their two-game weekend series on Saturday, with tipoff set for 12 p.m. inside the America First Event Center.
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Plays of the Game
