CEDAR CITY, Utah-Thursday and Saturday, Southern Utah University men’s basketball (7-1, 2-0 in Big Sky Conference) returns to action by hosting the Idaho Vandals (0-7, 0-4 in Big Sky play).
The Thunderbirds, who went 5-1 in non-conference play, posted their best record in non-league competition in their Division I history (1988-89-present).
SUU scores 84.6 points per game, ranking the Thunderbirds 22nd nationally in scoring offense. Defensively, the Thunderbirds surrender 67.4 points per contest. This ranks SUU 114th nationally in scoring defense.
Junior guard Tevian Jones (18.1 points per game) is the Thunderbirds’ leading scorer.
Also scoring in double figures on-average for SUU are junior forward Maizen Fausett (13.9 points per game) who is the Thunderbirds’ leader in rebounds (6.8 boards per game), senior guard John Knight III (12.9 points per game and the squad’s leader in assists [37] and steals [13]) and senior guard Dre Marin (10.3 points per game).
The Thunderbirds’ blocked shots leader is Croatian national, redshirt senior forward/center Ivan Madunic, who has 8 blocks.
SUU is coached by fifth-year head coach Todd Simon, who is 60-79 (.432) at the helm of the program.
Idaho scores 60 points per game, tying the Vandals for 326th nationally in scoring offense with Fairfield, Washington and IUPUI.
The Vandals give up 75.3 points per contest, ranking Idaho 258th nationally in scoring defense.
Idaho’s leading scorer is senior forward Scott Blakney, who scores 12.7 points per game.
The only other Vandal to score in double figures is sophomore guard Gabe Quinnett, who scores 10.7 points per contest.
Freshman forward Tanner Christensen is the Vandals’ leader on the glass, posting 4.4 rebounds per contest. Christensen’s 4 blocks also lead Idaho.
Australian national, freshman guard Hunter-Jack Madden, leads Idaho in assists (18) and is tied for the team lead in steals (6) with senior guards Damen Thacker and Chance Garvin.
Idaho is coached by Zac Claus, who is 8-31 (.205) in his second season.
The Thunderbirds lead the all-time series 15-11.
In news released from the athletic department Wednesday, attendance at these games will be limited to a player’s pass list.
Announcements concerning future plans of the SUU athletic department will be made at a later date.
