CEDAR CITY, UTAH -- The SUU Men's Basketball team will host the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) for the first game of the 2025-26 season in the America First Event Center.

Head Coach Rob Jeter said

"We did some good things against Arizona State, but we have to be better in transition, both offensively and defensively. Excited to be back in the AFEC and see all of our amazing fans and supporters."

Game Information

Who: Southern Utah (0-1, 0-0 WAC) vs UTRGV (0-1, 0-0 Southland)

When: Saturday, November 8, at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Cedar City, Utah, in the America First Event Center

Watch: ESPN+

Live Stats: HERE

Matchup History

The Thunderbirds hold a 3-1 all-time record over the Vaqueros. The former WAC opponent has visited Cedar City twice before and is still looking for its first win. The Vaqueros did win the last matchup just a season ago, defeating the Thunderbirds in Edinburg, 73-78.

The Thunderbirds Last Time Out

The Thunderbirds shot just 37% from the floor and an abysmal 4-25 from three. The team was 8-8 from the line and had 11 more field goal attempts than the Sun Devils.

SUU won the rebounding battle 40-39, including 16-11 on offensive rebounds. The T-Birds also won the battle in the paint, outscoring ASU 44-36.

The biggest difference in the game was ASU making five more three-pointers and outscoring the Thunderbirds 24-11 on the fast break.

Jaiden Feroah and Isaiah Cottrell lead the team with two blocks each, and six different Thunderbirds recorded a steal.

True freshman point guard Elijah Duval proved that he is ready for the DI level, leading all scorers with 17 points on an efficient 8-14 from the field.

Isaiah Cottrell, Jaiden Feroah, and Cale Barclay all topped the team with seven rebounds each.

Cottrell was the only other Thunderbird in double-digits scoring with 11

The Vaqueros

UTRGV opened its season on the road at Baylor and fell 81-96. 

Marvin McGhee III is someone Rob Jeter and the Thunderbirds are very familiar with, having played him two years in a row when he was with the Roadrunners of CSUB. McGhee led the Vaqueros in the season opener, scoring 16 points on 4-8 from three.

Filip Brankovic and Zae Blake both scored 14 for UTRGV, and Kye Dickson added 10.

The Vaqueros were an impressive 11-27 from deep in the loss and 30-61 from the floor.

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