The Southern Utah University (SUU) men’s basketball team ended its regular season with a 82-75 loss to California Baptist University (CBU) in Cedar City, Utah. The Thunderbirds fell behind by as many as 20 points in the first half but narrowed the deficit to just two late in the game before CBU secured the win.
Freshman point guard Elijah Duval led SUU with a career-high 30 points, shooting 11-for-17 from the field. He also contributed four rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Another freshman, Cale Barclay, set a personal best for the second consecutive game by scoring 14 points and making eight of nine free throws. Jaiden Feroah added 14 points and collected six rebounds.
CBU took control early by scoring on ten straight possessions and building a significant lead. Despite Duval’s efforts to keep SUU competitive, including an and-one play and a three-pointer before halftime, SUU trailed by 13 at the break. The Lancers started strong again in the second half, but SUU steadily reduced their lead throughout the period.
SUU struggled from beyond the arc without sharpshooter Tanner Hayhurst, converting only four of their nineteen three-point attempts. CBU demonstrated why they are considered one of the conference’s top rebounding teams by outrebounding SUU 37-29. The Thunderbirds committed only nine turnovers while recording ten assists.
With this result, SUU is locked into the No. 5 seed for the upcoming Western Athletic Conference (WAC) postseason tournament. They will face No. 4-seeded UT Arlington Mavericks in Las Vegas at Orleans Arena during the Air Force Reserve WAC Basketball Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12 at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets for the tournament can be purchased online at orleans.boydgaming.com.
