FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Tevian Jones scored 12 points, Maizen Fausett had a 12-point, 8-rebound outing, and the Southern Utah University men's basketball team used a suffocating defense to hold Northern Arizona to 34.5 percent shooting from the field on their way to a 31-point victory.

The Thunderbirds (17-9, 11-5) went down 4-0 to start the game but responded with a 15-0 run of their own and never looked back, as they kept the pressure on the Lumberjacks until the final buzzer.

Southern Utah had seven different players knock down a three-point shot throughout the night, shooting a red-hot 41.9 percent from beyond the arc. 

The Thunderbird defense showed up in full force, limiting one of the Big Sky's best three-point shooting teams to just 14.3 percent from three, well below their season average of 36.5 percent, and their lowest shooting mark from behind the three-point line in any contest this season. The T-birds were also plus five in the turnover margin, scoring twelve points off of ten Lumberjack turnovers.

Southern Utah received offensive contributions from across the board, as eight different players scored at least eight points in the contest.

After dominating the first half, Southern Utah took a 17-point lead into the break. Northern Arizona did their best to get back into the game, going on a 9-0 run to start the second half. SUU responded yet again, answering the Lumberjacks' run with a 24-6 run of their own, pushing the lead to 26. At one point in the midst of the huge run by the T-Birds, Jones scored or assisted on five consecutive baskets.

The T-Birds kept the intensity up over the last ten minutes of the game, continuing to build upon their lead. Nick Fleming knocked down his third three-pointer of the game with 12 seconds left to put the icing on the cake, as the Thunderbirds picked up their 17th win of the season in dominating fashion.

Notable Stats:

• Fleming set a season-high for points, scoring 9 on a perfect 3-3 from beyond the arc.

• Jason Spurgin had a career-high 13 rebounds.

• John Knight III led the Thunderbirds in both assists (5) and steals (4).

• Southern Utah had a season-low 5 turnovers on the night.

• SUU outrebounded NAU 43-31.

• The win was the T-Birds' fourth consecutive victory over Northern Arizona.

Up Next

Southern Utah returns to Cedar City for their final home game of the season this Thursday night against Montana with tip-off set for 7 p.m. MT. The Thunderbirds will be honoring eight graduating seniors who will be playing their final regular-season game in the America First Event Center.

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