CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah University men's basketball team will continue what has been a remarkable season, as they travel to Fresno, California to take on the Fresno State Bulldogs in the semifinals of The Basketball Classic this evening. The game is scheduled for 8 PM MT and will be available for viewing on ESPN+.

Game Info

Southern Utah vs Fresno State

Date: March 28, 2022

Tip-Off: 8 PM MT

Location: Fresno, California

Venue: Save Mart Center

Stream: ESPN+

Watch | Live Stats | Game Notes (PDF)

Preview

Monday's matchup will feature one of the top offenses in the nation against one of the country's premier defenses. Southern Utah's elite offense ranks 21st in the nation in scoring at 78.6 points per contest, while Fresno State is currently ranked 5th in the country in team defense, allowing a paltry 59.3 points per game this season.

Southern Utah (23-11, 14-6) is seeking their 24th victory of the season, as they inch closer to tying the most wins in a single season in the program's Division I history at 25 victories. 

Securing the 24th win will be a daunting task, though, as Southern Utah is coming off of just one day of rest following their victory over Portland, and the team will be playing their 3rd game in six days.

The Bulldogs are led by fourth-year Head Coach, Justin Hutson. Hutson has established Fresno State as one of the premier defensive units in college basketball this season. The Bulldogs rank second in the Mountain West Conference in points allowed and third in opponent's average field goal percentage (41.3%) this season.

Orlando Robinson, a seven-foot-tall junior out of Las Vegas, Nevada, commands Fresno State on both offense and defense. Robinson anchors the paint for the Bulldogs on defense, averaging the fourth-highest blocks per game in the Mountain West at 1.2. On offense, he is an elite scorer who is putting up 19.4 points per game this year, while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 33.7 percent from three.

Although the Bulldogs have boasted one of the best defenses in college basketball this season, they struggle to defend the three-point line, allowing opponents to shoot 33.1 percent from behind the arc, which ranks 8th in the Mountain West.

Fresno State's offense has faltered at times during the current season, as they have only averaged 65.6 points per contest. Similar to their struggles in defending the three-point line, the Bulldogs have been abysmal shooting the ball from behind the arc, amassing a 32.4 shooting percentage from three this season. In their 13 losses this season, the Bulldogs have averaged a meager 57.3 points per contest; whereas, in victories, they have averaged 71.5 points per game.

Southern Utah has been unstoppable on offense throughout The Basketball Classic thus far. In three victories over opponents from the MAC, Conference USA, and the WCC, the T-Birds have combined to shoot an extraordinary 55.3 percent from the field (89-161) and an equally impressive mark of 41 percent from three (32-78). SUU has also dished out an average of 17.3 assists per game and are plus 24 in the rebounding margin throughout the postseason tournament.

The Thunderbirds have received contributions from across the board on offense, as different players have stepped up in each contest to create a dynamic offensive attack that has flustered opposing defenses. 

Dre Marin has led the way for the SUU offense, averaging 17.3 points per game on 66.7 percent shooting from three (14-21) in The Basketball Classic. John Knight III has continued his stellar play in the postseason, putting up averages of 15.3 points and 4.7 assists per game, while Jason Spurgin is averaging a double-double in the tournament, putting up 11.3 points per game while pulling down 10 rebounds per contest. 

The T-Birds have stepped up their defensive tenacity in the postseason, holding teams to 71 points per contest on just 41.3 percent shooting from the floor, and 36.2 percent from three.

Southern Utah will look to continue their offensive brilliance against the Bulldogs' strong defense and secure their fourth consecutive postseason victory to reach the championship of The Basketball Classic.

Last Time Out

John Knight III scored 20 points, and Marquis Moore scored a season-high 15 points off the bench, as Southern Utah never trailed in their 77-66 quarterfinal victory over Portland.

Six different Southern Utah players scored at least eight points, and the Thunderbirds shot 53.7 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three on their way to picking up their 23rd victory of the season and advancing to the final four of The Basketball Classic.

The T-Birds held Portland to just 42.6 percent shooting for the game and out-rebounded the Pilots, 35-25.

Southern Utah received 28 points of contribution off the bench, while the Pilots bench mustered just 3 points. SUU also outscored Portland in the paint, 28-20.

The win was Southern Utah's third postseason victory this season, and the fourth ever in its Division I history. 

Notable Stats:

• Head Coach Todd Simon has led Southern Utah to a combined record of 43-15 overall and 26-8 in Big Sky play over the past two seasons.

• John Knight III has scored in double figures in nine consecutive contests.

• Jason Spurgin pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds in the quarterfinal matchup against Portland. 

• Tonight's matchup will be the first between the two programs since December of 1990.

• Southern Utah is one of 12 Division I basketball teams still competing this season.

• SUU has compiled a record of 8-7 in true road contests this season.

• Southern Utah is two wins shy of tying the program record for total number of wins in a single season.

A win tonight would advance Southern Utah to the championship game of The Basketball Classic, where they would face the winner of South Alabama vs Coastal Carolina later in the week.

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