By: Keller Sherman
Featured Image Courtesy of Southern Utah Athletics
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The first team all-WAC honoree was at it again on Monday. Tevian Jones capped off a 30-point performance by nailing a game-winning shot with four seconds to go. That shot kept the game from going to overtime after the Thunderbirds had blown a 12-point halftime lead. Only with two minutes left did Rice cut their deficit to single digits. The Owls still had a shot to win it, but Quincy Olivari’s three-point shot fell short. SUU survived the upset bid and advances to the semifinals of the CBI. Flynn Clayman improved to 2-0 as the interim head coach.
Oh, So Close
Tevian Jones’ 30-point showing was the highlight of the game, but other Thunderbirds shined as well. Cameron Healy came off the bench for 14 points. It was the second straight game in which he came off the bench and scored in double figures. Two players came just one number away from a double-double. Maizen Fausett had 11 points but only recorded nine rebounds. Jason Spurgin reached double figures in rebounding but just missed with only nine points. SUU was so close to having not one, but two double-doubles in one game, but yet so far.
Up Next
The Thunderbirds are now only two wins away from ending their season with a championship. It may not be the national championship or NIT trophy, but a postseason crown is still right there. They will face Eastern Kentucky in the CBI semifinals on Tuesday evening. The Colonels beat Indiana State in the game just before SUU played in an 89-88 overtime thriller. This was coincidentally the same final score of the Thunderbirds’ thrilling 23-point comeback over rival Utah Valley in the WAC Tournament.