Utah
WAC Vegas: SUU rallies past hot-shooting Utah Tech; Utah Valley blocks upset bid
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LAS VEGAS — The primary-ever Western Athletic Convention Event recreation between Southern Utah and in-state rival Utah Tech was an on the spot basic.
Jason Spurgin had 18 factors and eight rebounds to steer six gamers in double figures as Southern Utah held off hot-shooting Utah Tech, 76-75, in entrance of a raucous crowd at Orleans Area in Las Vegas.
Drake Allen and Maizen Fausett every had 13 factors and 4 rebounds, and Harrison Butler scored 12 factors with 4 rebounds for the Thunderbirds (21-11) within the rubber match that every workforce received within the common season on their dwelling flooring. Tevian Jones and Cameron Healy every scored 10 for Southern Utah.
Allen additionally had a game-high seven assists for Southern Utah, which superior to face Utah Valley in Friday’s semifinals.
Cameron Gooden poured in a career-best 35 factors to tie a program single-game program scoring file for the history-making Trailblazers, who shot 54% from the sector. However Southern Utah scored 21 factors off 17 turnovers, and held on in a recreation that featured 11 ties and 10 lead adjustments.
“These guys know shut out video games, and that was the distinction for us,” SUU coach Todd Simon stated. “It was an excellent school basketball recreation, and we hope to play higher tomorrow.”
Gooden erupted within the first half for Utah Tech, scoring 20 factors that included a spinning jumper with 41 seconds left to offer the Trailblazers a quick lead earlier than Healy beat the buzzer on a 3-pointer to offer SUU a 39-38 halftime edge.
Each groups shot 55% from the sector earlier than the break, however Utah Tech outrebounded the Thunderbirds 16-11 to beat a 22-10 factors within the paint deficit within the first half. Southern Utah’s 18-of-25 free throws made the distinction, together with a pair by Butler with 8 seconds left to ice the sport.
“Harrison getting in foul bother harm; he is our Pat Bev of our workforce,” SUU coach Todd Simon stated of Butler, a reference to Chicago Bulls guard Patrick Beverly that elicited amusing from the seat subsequent to him. “He form of slows us down a bit of bit. However I assumed he was great, and Harrison is nice like that.”
Beverly, although? That is information to Butler.
“I’ve by no means gotten that a lot gasoline,” stated Butler, whose 12 factors included 7-of-9 from the foul line. “I’ve shot these a thousand instances in my life; possibly 1,000,000. No stress. I simply threw it on the rim.”
Added Simon: “In clutch basketball, I do not assume he is ever missed a free throw.”
Gooden and Jacob Nicolds had back-to-back 3-pointers to carry Utah Tech to a 54-48 lead seven minutes into the second half. Neither workforce led by greater than 6 down the stretch, and was tied at 70-all with one minute remaining.
That is when Spurgin went to the rim for 2, drew a foul for the 3-point play, and the free throw gave Southern Utah a 73-70 lead.
Gooden’s game-tying try bounced off the iron on the following possession, and the Thunderbirds did simply sufficient to carry on. Amongst Southern Utah’s 18 free throws, none had been larger than Butler’s journey to the stripe with 8 seconds left to ice the sport earlier than Gooden swished his fourth 3-pointer on a buzzer beater to offer the ultimate margin.
“We had been picked ninth, and we took that personally,” Simon stated. “However we believed in one another, and we like the place we’re at proper now. We wish to win; if we lose tomorrow, we’ll be unhappy. We wish to win each night time.”
Utah Valley blocks Tarleton’s upset bid in match opener
The regular-season champs however No. 2 seed as a result of league’s resume seeding system, Utah Valley had one thing to show towards the final workforce handy the Wolverines a loss Thursday night.
Contemplate the purpose confirmed.
Trey Woodbury poured in 21 factors, seven rebounds and three assists, and Justin Harmon led all scorers with 23 factors as Utah Valley cruised previous Tarleton State, 72-58, at Orleans Area.
“Clearly, we did have a chip on our shoulder and we wished to return out right here and make a press release,” Woodbury stated. “However we knew their stress, and we weren’t going to again away from the stress.”
Aziz Bandaogo equipped 12 factors, seven rebounds and three blocked photographs for the Wolverines (25-7), and teammate Le’Tre Darthard had 11 factors and 4 rebounds for a workforce that trailed for lower than three minutes of its postseason debut.
The Wolverines shot 54% from the sector, 47% from 3-point vary and outrebounded the Texans 37-26, overcoming 20 turnovers that led to 23 factors.
Simply two weeks faraway from a 77-58 loss in Stephenville, Texas, Utah Valley by no means let Tarleton (17-16) get snug. The Wolverines held the Texans scoreless from the sector for 4 minutes within the first half, turning a 15-13 edge with 9:28 left within the half right into a 25-15 benefit on a pair of free throws from Woodbury with 4:53 to go.
Woodbury scored 13 factors with three rebounds earlier than the break, and the Wolverines shot 52% and 4-of-8 from 3 en path to a 34-27 halftime lead.
Tarleton pressured a load of turnovers, and pulled inside one on Jakorie Smith’s layup with 14:21 to go. However the Texans might get no nearer as Harmon took over down the stretch and Bandaogo capped a 9-0 run back-to-back dunks with 5:24 to go to go up 63-48, then swatted a ball that flew into the stands to assist safe the win on the defensive finish.
“Each time he blocks it into the stands, I get hyped,” Woodbury stated. “Any play he makes is wonderful. He is only a freak of nature.”
Added Harmon: “Aziz is a specimen, an alien, a unicorn. Aziz is particular, and younger. He is simply Aziz.”
Smith had 12 factors to steer Tarleton, and Freddy Hicks added 10 factors and eight rebounds.