CEDAR CITY, UTAH – The Thunderbirds improved to 4-0 for the first time in program history after defeating the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks, 79-73. 

Head Coach Rob Jeter said

Top T-Birds

• Jamir Simpson led all scorers with 25 points on 8-15 from the field. 

• Dominique Ford topped the 20-point mark as well, scoring 22 points on 4-10 from three. 

• Jamari Sibley registered another double-double. Scoring 10 points and corralling 10 rebounds.

Game Recap

A back and forth affair in the first half, with neither team leading by more than five until Xavier Sykes checked in for the Thunderbirds at the 5:30 mark and immediately got a steal that led to a fast-break dunk for Malik Lamin and then the next possession buried a corner three that pushed the lead to eight for SUU and the Mavericks needed a timeout. 

With six seconds left in the half, Dominique Ford raced the length of the floor and hit a tough fadeaway jumper as time expired, and the Thunderbirds took a 41-32 lead into the halftime break. 

The second half saw the Thunderbird lead balloon even more when Jamir Simpson scored six straight points, and Ford knocked down a triple to cap off a 9-0 run and push the lead to 53-36. 

The lead would eventually get up to 20 points with 9:16 left in the game, but a 14-0 Mavericks run quickly turned the game on its head. 

A layup from Ja'Sean Glover made it a 71-73 game with 30 seconds left. A quick foul by the Mavericks sent Jamari Sibley to the line, where he made both, and the Thunderbirds would hang on and improve to the best start in program history. 

HIGHLIGHTS

Up Next

After four straight home games, the Thunderbirds will hit the road for four in a row, first at Loyola-Chicago on Tuesday, November 19, at 6:30 p.m.

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