CEDAR CITY, Utah – JaJuan Nicholls scored 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, and Southern Utah men's basketball beat Ottawa (Ariz.) 78-51 in an exhibition Monday, Oct. 12, at the America First Event Center.
The Thunderbirds led 32-24 at halftime and outscored the Spirit 46-27 after the break, shooting 60 percent (18-of-30) from the field in the second half. SUU shot 48.2 percent for the game, held Ottawa to 37.7 percent and won the rebounding battle 47-23.
Nicholls Leads the Way
Nicholls scored SUU's first four points, including a putback dunk, and was perfect from the field after halftime, going 6-for-6 for 12 second-half points. Three of those baskets were dunks, one of them finishing a fast break off an Anthony Breland assist. He added eight rebounds, three on the offensive glass, in 20 minutes.
Feroah Controls the Glass
Jaiden Feroah grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, eight on the defensive end, in a team-high 26 minutes. He scored all seven of his points in the first half, hitting a 3-pointer and throwing down a dunk during SUU's 9-0 start, then added three assists in the second half.
Depth on Display
Ten Thunderbirds scored, and the SUU bench outscored Ottawa's reserves 37-23. Jordan Brown scored nine points on 4-of-7 shooting, Mikhail Protsenko scored all nine of his points in the second half on 3-of-3 shooting, and Breland added nine points, five rebounds and three assists.
After Ottawa pulled within 11-10 in the first half, Breland's 3-pointer started a 13-0 run that put SUU ahead 23-10. Dylan Sanders scored 10 points with two 3-pointers, two steals and a block, including a steal and dunk midway through the second half.
Sharing the Ball, Pushing the Pace
SUU assisted on 19 of its 27 field goals, including 13 of 18 in the second half. Chase DeGraffenried led the team with four assists, while Breland, Feroah and Juok Riak each had three.
The Thunderbirds' defense forced 15 turnovers with 10 steals, leading to 17 points off turnovers. SUU held edges of 32-16 in points in the paint, 15-3 in fast-break points and 16-3 in second-chance points.
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