Southern Utah Tests No. 6 Kansas, Comes Up Short In Final Minute
Nov 18, 2022, 10:39 PM
Tevian Jones #55 of the Southern Utah Thunderbirds drives to the basket against Kevin McCullar Jr. #15 of the Kansas Jayhawks in the second at Allen Fieldhouse on November 18, 2022 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
CEDAR CITY, Utah – The Southern Utah Thunderbirds went to Lawrence and tested the No. 6 Kansas Jayhawks, but lost in the final minute, 82-76 on Friday night.
Kansas held a 77-76 lead over Southern Utah with 1:03 remaining in the game after Tevian Jones converted a three-point play. After Kansas called a timeout, Gradey Dick hit a three-pointer off of an offensive rebound to extend their lead to four. Southern Utah was forced to play the foul game and lost to the blueblood Jayhawks.
Jones led the Thunderbirds with 25 points and six rebounds on 9-of-27 shooting from the field and 3-for-13 from the three-point line. Maizen Fausett dropped 14 points and nine rebounds on 4-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc.
Harrison Butler was the third and final Thunderbird to score in double figures with 12 points to go with eight rebounds and five assists. Southern Utah trailed 41-39 at halftime, with Kansas outscoring SUU 41-37 in the second half.
Heck of a college basketball game.
At Kansas, the toughest place to play in college basketball vs. the defending National champions…25 lead changes & a chance in the final minute.
Not the outcome we wanted but proud of the way our guys represented Southern Utah & our program! https://t.co/jePRzqDETh
— Todd Simon (@CoachTsimon) November 19, 2022
As a team, Southern Utah shot 37% from the field, 32% from the three-point line, and 68% at the free-throw line. Kansas shot 50% from the floor, 40% from beyond the arc, and 62% at the foul line. One of the things that kept SUU in the game was their offensive rebounding by pulling down 14 on the offensive glass. The Jayhawks had just six offensive rebounds with five second-chance points.
Jalen Wilson led Kansas with 33 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Dick added 18 points, while Dajuan Harris chipped in 14 points.
Southern Utah dropped their record to 3-2 on the season. They will head to Laie, Hawai’i to participate in the North Shore Classic. SUU will face Texas State on Friday, November 25, and will play another game on Saturday, November 26. After the North Shore Classic, Southern Utah will face Montana State and Idaho State before participating in the Jack Jones Hoopfest in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, December 10.
