Utah Tech defeats Southern Utah 80-66
Utah Tech Edges Southern Utah Behind Strong Team Effort, 80-66
Burns Arena was electric on Tuesday night as the Utah Tech Thunderbirds hosted their in-state rivals, the Southern Utah Thunderbirds. The home team came out strong, leading by as many as 16 points in the second half before holding off a late surge from the visiting Thunderbirds to secure an 80-66 victory.
The game's pivotal turning point came at halftime, when the Thunderbirds' Noah Bolanga scored 10 of his 18 points in the first period, giving Utah Tech a 41-39 lead. The home team's bench was instrumental in maintaining their advantage, as they outscored Southern Utah's bench by 14 points.
Utah Tech's Ethan Potter led the way on the glass, grabbing nine rebounds and scoring 13 points, while Jusaun Holt added 14 points, four assists, and five rebounds. The Thunderbirds' balanced attack allowed them to control the tempo of the game, outrebounding Southern Utah 43-36.
Southern Utah, meanwhile, struggled from beyond the arc, making just two of seven three-point attempts. Dylan Jones led the way for the Thunderbirds, scoring 12 points on 50% shooting from the field. However, his team's inability to find consistency on the perimeter limited their ability to keep pace with Utah Tech.
The game was marked by a number of key differentiating stats that contributed to the Thunderbirds' victory. Utah Tech's true shooting percentage of 53.5% compared to Southern Utah's 49.1%, and the home team's eFG% of 52.2% was nearly identical to their opponent's 45.7%. However, it was Utah Tech's superior rebounding margin that ultimately proved decisive, as they outrebounded the Thunderbirds by nine on the glass.
The win improves Utah Tech's conference record to [X], while Southern Utah falls to [X]. The victory is a testament to the Thunderbirds' strength and depth, as they navigated a challenging game against a tough opponent. With the win, Utah Tech solidifies its position in the standings, setting up an intriguing matchup next week.
The Thunderbirds will look to build on this momentum when they host [insert team] next Tuesday.