RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA -- The Thunderbirds dropped a very tough defensive showdown to the California Baptist Lancers on Saturday night. A shot at the buzzer just missed, and the T-Birds fell to CBU 58-55.

Head Coach Rob Jeter said

"We are getting closer. That was a better effort defensively, now we have to take care of the ball offensively."

Top T-Birds

• Jaiden Feroah led the Thunderbirds with 16 points on 7-11 from the field. He also grabbed six rebounds and had a steal and a block.
• Cale Barclay scored nine points on a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line. He also grabbed four rebounds and had two assists.
• Elijah Duval finished with eight points, led the team with three rebounds, grabbed five rebounds and had a block and a steal.

HIGHLIGHTS

Game Recap

Right from the tip, it was clear that both teams were going to struggle scoring the ball. The game's first points weren't scored until the 17:30 mark. 

Southern Utah's only point for the first eight minutes of action was a free-throw from Jaiden Feroah. Finally, Feroah scored the team's first field goal, and with 12:08 left in the first half, the Thunderbirds trailed 10-3.

The teams then exchanged a few buckets over the next three minutes, but still, the defensive intensity was through the roof for both teams.

The lead was as many as 11 for the Lancers, but SUU wouldn't go away. A jumper from Isaiah Cottrell, followed by a three from Jalen (Roc) Lee, cut the lead in half with 1:20 to play in the first.

With four seconds left, Duval was fouled on a completed layup, and the ensuing free-throw resulted in an offensive rebound for the Thunderbirds that led to a kick-out three from Tanner Hayhurst as the first half buzzer expired. SUU went into the break trailing by just two points.

The second half was a lot of the same for both teams. Suffocating defense and a frustrated offense. CBU was able to sustain a little bit of offense and opened up an 11-point lead twice in the second half, but again, the T-Birds responded. 

SUU went on a 10-0 run and cut the deficit to just one point with 5:49 remaining. Dominique Daniels Jr then went on a personal 6-0 run that was capped off by a three-pointer from Jaden Jackson, and the deficit was 12 for the T-Birds with 2:55 left.

Once again, the Thunderbirds answered with a made three-pointer from Duval, and then another from Feroah, and then another from Lee! And with 19 seconds left, it was just a two-point game, and the Lancers were shooting free throws.

Daniels Jr went 1-2 from the line, and SUU had a chance at the buzzer to tie the game, but it would not fall, and SUU fell to CBU.

Statistical Recap

Both teams were abysmal from the field, with SUU shooting just 35% and the Thunderbirds holding CBU to 31%. Southern Utah got its three-point percentage to 29%, but CBU shot just 23% from deep.

Turnovers were a problem for SUU again, as the Lancers turned 12 SUU turnovers into 16 points.

SUU held the preseason player of the year in Daniels Jr to 7-28 from the field.

Another big statistical piece of the game was CBU's 22 offensive rebounds, which led to 21 second-chance points. CBU took 11 more shots than the Thunderbirds did.

Up Next

SUU will be back in the AFEC on Thursday, January 15, at 6:30 p.m. to take on the Texans of Tarleton State. It is a western theme and an SUU cowboy hat giveaway! So come out and support our T-Birds.

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