Men's Basketball | 2/25/2025 3:00:00 PM
Game #28 - WHITE OUT
Who | Southern Utah (11-16, 3-10 WAC) at Utah Tech (6-21, 2-10 WAC)
When | Thursday, Feb. 27 – 7 p.m.
Where | Burns Arena – St. George, Utah
Broadcast | ESPN+ / 99.5 The Fan Sports Network
Social Media |
Instagram +
Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers + #WACmbb
ALUMNI NIGHT
- Giving Back
- Utah Tech Athletics will donate $1 of every ticket sold to The Monthly Move Project, benefiting children in the Circles USA program.
- Alumni Night
- Utah Tech Alumni can visit the Alumni Association table on the concourse pregame for a concession voucher.
- Honoring History
- We're celebrating the 1985 Dixie College National Champion Men's Basketball Team!
- Defeated Kankakee Community College, 57-55 for the NJCAA National Championship.
- Team finished 35-1 and the entire team was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.
- Special Guest
- NCAA and Utah Jazz legend Thurl Bailey will perform the National Anthem!
SCOUTING THE THUNDERBIRDS
Southern Utah enter Thursday night's contest against the Trailblazers with an 11-16 overall record and a 3-10 mark in the WAC, good for eighth in the WAC.
Coming off a 75-59 loss at home to Abilene Christian last Thursday, the Thunderbirds have earned WAC wins over California Baptist (60-57), UT Arlington (73-68) and Utah Tech (76-74).
The two teams met two weeks ago in Cedar City on Feb. 13 with SUU coming away with a narrow 76-74 win over the Trailblazers getting a tip-in layup in the final seconds by Jeffrey Langston Jr. for the victory.
The Thunderbirds check in second in the WAC in three point percentage defense (31.9), are third in blocks per game (4.3), rebounds per game (37.5) & free throw perentage (73.5) and fourth in field goal percentage defense (43.7).
Individually, sophomore forward Brock Felder has been strong defensively topping the WAC in blocks (55) and blocks per game (2.04).
Senior guard Jamir Simpson has been a leading scorer ranking second in the conference averaging 16.7 points per game totaling 23 double-digit scoring games and had a season-high 28 at Loyola Chicago on Nov. 19. The Wisconsin Parkside transfer ranks third in the WAC in free throw percentage (81.5) and is fifth in minutes per game (31:55).
In total, SUU averages 71.0 points per game and is 10-4 when scoring 71 or more points.
In 13 WAC games, the Thunderbirds are averaging 64.6 points per game and have reached 65 or more points in seven games (2-5).
SERIES HISTORY VS. SOUTHERN UTAH
This will be Utah Tech's 10th meeting against Southern Utah and fourth at home in St. George with the Trailblazers leading the all-time series, 3-0
Earning a 70-68 win at home over the Thunderbirds last season, Utah Tech also won contests at home on Feb. 4, 2023 (86-79) and Nov. 12, 2021 (83-76).
Noa Gonsalves notched double figures in each of the last three contests and overall in eight contests against SUU is averaging 9.0 points per game.
LAST TIME OUT
With four Trailblazers finishing in double figures, Utah Tech battled tough on Saturday night at Abilene Christian falling 80-72 to the Wildcats at Moody Coliseum.
Utah Tech was led by 19 points from senior guard Noa Gonsalves, who sank four field goals and nine free throws, to go along with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Hakim Byrd and Samuel Ariyibi chipped in 12 points apiece while Beon Riley tacked on 11 points and five rebounds. Ariyibi added a game-high 12 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.
Abilene Christian, who won its fifth straight game, saw three Wildcats finish in double digits with Leonardo Bettiol pacing ACU with 19 points followed by Quion Williams chipped in 18 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Hunter Jack Madden, who led ACU with 18 points in their previous match up earlier this season, tallied 11 points, four rebounds and four steals.
Getting behind 13-5 after the opening five minutes of action, the Trailblazers stayed within five (28-23) after a three-pointer by Justin Bieker.
An 8-0 run for the Wildcats extended their lead to 36-23 as ACU kept a 13-point lead heading into the locker room at 44-31.
Coming out of the break, a jumper by Ariyibi and a three-pointer by Riley cut the Wildcats' lead to eight (44-36).
A three-point play by Riley kept the Trailblazers within six (53-47) with just under 13 minutes to play and after seven-plus minutes of action, a layup by Madiba Owona brought UT within seven (67-60) with 5:42 to play.
A pair of free throws from Owona brought the Trailblazers within six (71-65), but five straight points for ACU pushed the Wildcats in front by 11 with two minutes remaining as Utah Tech could not any closer than eight down the stretch.
WHERE THE BLAZERS RANK IN THE WAC/NCAA
Utah Tech checks in second in the WAC in three point attempts per game (22.5) and three pointers made per game (7.5).
The Trailblazers also rank fourth in assists per game (12.9), three point percentage (33.3) and turnovers per game (12.6).
Individually, Gonsalves leads the WAC in three-pointers made (64), is second in three-pointers made per game (2.37), third in minutes per game (34:46) and seventh in point per game (14.4).
Riley ranks third in double-doubles (8) and is fifth in rebounds per game (7.7).
Samuel Ariybi is fourth in blocks (38) and fifth in blocks per game (1.58).
HITTING FROM DOWNTOWN
On the season, the Trailblazers are 202-of-607 (.333) from behind the arc which currently ranks fourth all-time in three-pointers made and the 607 three-point attempts are third all-time.
GET THAT OUT OF HERE
As a team, the Trailblazers have notched 85 total blocks, good for eighth-most in a single season in the NCAA era.
Samuel Ariyibi leads the way with 38 blocks which is the seventh-most in a single season in program history.
FALLING IN CLOSE CONTESTS
Utah Tech fell to 0-7 in games decided by three points or less last Thursday night at home against WAC-leading Utah Valley.
UT has dropped their last eight games decided by three or less dating back to last season.
Its last win in a contest that was three points or fewer came in a 70-68 win at home over Southern Utah on Feb. 8, 2024.
HOT FROM THE FIELD
The Trailblazers continued its strong shooting on Saturday with its seventh straight contest shooting over 40 percent from the field.
Overall, UT is 6-15 when hitting that mark this season and 2-8 in WAC contests
RILEY CONTINUES STRONG SEASON
Riley's average of 7.7 rebounds per game is sixth all-time in a single season.
He is also sixth all-time in career rebounds per game averaging 6.6 boards per game.
A two-year Trailblazer, Riley's average of 12.1 points per game is tied for ninth all-time in program history.
He has scored in double digits in five straight games and nine times overall in WAC play.
GONSALVES CONTINUES ASCENT UP CAREER TOP 10 MARKS
Gonsalves enters the week only 15 points shy of moving past DeQuan Thompson (2011-15) for fourth all-time in career points currently sitting at 1,171.
In addition, Gonsalves ranks second in career games played (121), third in starts (86), fourth in steals (122), field goals made (402) & field goal attempts (913) & seventh in free throw percentage (79.8).
SCORING/REBOUNDING LEADERS
Gonsalves has led the team in scoring in 11 games, including six in WAC play, followed by Riley with seven, Byrd and and Bieker with three, Rainwater in a pair of games and Stone Hutchings in one.
On the rebounding side, Riley has led or tied for the team lead in 16 contests followed by Samuel Ariyibi in seven and Gonsalves in a pair.
BYRD & GONSALVES STANDOUTS FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE
Byrd and Gonsalves have been consistent all season from the free throw line.
Byrd has connected on 47-of-52 (90.4) from the line while Gonsalves is 61-pf-68 (89.7) to rank second and third, respectively in program history in a single season in free throw percentage.
DOUBLE FIGURES
Gonsalves has reached double figures in 22 of 27 contests, including 14 of his last 16.
Riley (17), Ariyibi (9),Justin Bieker (8), Byrd (8), Britton Berrett (3), Owona (3, Tennessee Rainwater (3) & Stone Hutchings (2) have also recorded multiple double digit contests this season.
GONSALVES THE SHARPSHOOTER
Gonsalves became the program leader for the most career three-pointers made on Dec. 7 at Utah State passing Brandon Simister (2012-18).
He currently has 209 made three-pointers on 555 attempts and is ninth in 3-point percentage at 37.7 percent.
On the season, he is 64-of-174 (.368) from behind the arc on the season as his three-pointers made are third-most in a single season and his attempts are the most in a single season.
Overall in 121 games played, Gonsalves has hit a three-pointer in 95 contests, including 52 out of 58 games over the last two seasons.
He has hit multiple triples in 20 games this season and 60 career games.
SEASONED VETERAN
Head coach Jon Judkins is in his 20th season at Utah Tech this season sporting a 337-224 (.601) overall record and a 317-212 (.599) mark in NCAA play.
Only nine current Division I coaches have been at their schools longer - Greg Kampe (41st season at Oakland), Tom Izzo (30-Michigan St.), Mark Few (26-Gonzaga), James Jones (26-Yale), Randy Bennett (26-Saint Mary's), Leonard Hamilton (23-Florida St.), Scott Drew (22-Baylor), Bill Self (22-Kansas) & Gary Manchel (22-Mercyhurst).
WAC TOURNAMENT TWO WEEKS AWAY
Set for March 11-15, the opening game of the WAC Tournament between the number eight and nine seeds is set for March 11 at Burns Arena with the rest of the tournament on March 12-15 against Orleans Arena.
UP NEXT
The Trailblazers open March on Saturday night hosting California Baptist (13-13, 6-6 WAC) at 7 p.m. and will honor this year's Hall of Fame Class at halftime.
