Southern Utah holds off Sacramento State 76-71

Southern Utah holds off Sacramento State 76-71

CEDAR CITY, Utah (AP) — Cameron Oluyitan tossed in 21 points and Andre Adams added 17 points and nine rebounds to guide Southern Utah to a 76-71 victory over Sacramento State on Saturday.

Oluyitan sank 7 of 9 shots, including all three of his 3-point tries, for the Thunderbirds (9-7, 4-3 Big Sky Conference), who shot 53.5 percent from the floor and buried 6 of 11 from behind the arc. Adams hit 5 of 7 shots, all seven of his free throws, and added three assists. Jacob Calloway pitched in with 15 points and six boards and Brandon Better scored 12.

Oluyitan and Calloway combined to score 23 in the first half as Southern Utah took a 41-18 lead into intermission. The Hornets (7-8, 1-5) made just 6 of 28 shots in the first half (21 percent).

Marcus Graves scored 19 of his 24 points in the second half and hit back-to-back 3-pointers to help Sacramento State close to within 72-69 with 1:32 remaining in the game. Oluyitan hit two free throws before Joshua Patton’s dunk again pulled the Hornets within three points. Graves missed a 3 with a chance to tie with 19 seconds left and Calloway sank two free throws eight seconds later to preserve the win.

Bryce Fowler finished with 13 points, five steals and four assists and reserve Osi Nwachukwu added 13 points and eight rebounds for Sac State.