SUU Basketball Takes on Utah Tonight on ESPN 97.7!

The SUU Thunderbirds travel up to Salt Lake to take on the Utah Utes tonight.

Listen to game on ESPN 97.7 as well as 590 KSUB in Cedar City!

Here's the full press release from SUU Athletics: (full story)

CEDAR CITY, UT -- Southern Utah University's Men's Basketball team will continue their non-conference slate by traveling north to Salt Lake City to take on the University of Utah on Tue, Dec 5 at 7 p.m. and then returning home to play former Big Sky Conference opponent Idaho State on Sat Dec 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the America First Event Center.

The Utah game will be streamed on the Pac-12 Network and the Idaho State game will be available to stream on ESPN+. As always, follow along on SUUBasketball social media to stay updated on the games.

University of Utah

The Utes are currently 5-2 on the season and 2-0 at home. The Utes are averaging 81 points per game while giving up 70. They average 47% from the floor and nearly 39% from three. On average the Utes win the rebounding battle by seven per game and have an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.3.

Branden Carlson leads the Utes, averaging 17.3 points per game on 47/37/79 shooting splits. He also leads the team in rebounds with 44 on the year and eight blocks. Rollie Worster point guards the team with 37 assists on the year and just 10 turnovers. Gabe Madsen is second on the team in scoring at 13 points per game.

Idaho State University

The Bengals are currently 4-4 on the season and will take on Fresno State on Tuesday before traveling to Cedar City.

They average 69 points per game on 47% from the field and 32% from three. While holding their opponents to 42% from the field and 28% from three. ISU averages 13 assists per game and 7.6 steals per game.

Brayden Parker leads the team in scoring at 11.5 points per game on an impressive 66% from the floor and 42% from deep. Kiree Huie leads the team in rebounding at 6.6 and is tied for the lead in total blocks with nine. Maleek Arington leads the team with 30 assists but has 17 turnovers on the year.

The Thunderbirds

Zion Young is still leading the team in scoring at 14.5 per game on 40/37/67 shooting splits. He also leads the team in rebounds at just under five per game. Dominique Ford is second in scoring at 13.9 and leads the team in assists with 21 on the year, he also has 11 steals which is the most on the team.

All five starters for the Thunderbirds are averaging double digits in scoring, Prophet Johnson (12.3), Braden Housley (11.7) and Parsa Fallah (10.1).

"We have proven that we can score the ball, offensively we show really great stretches, but defensively we have to tighten up and learn how to defend without fouling. We are only seven games into this season and are still laying the foundation of what is going to be a really good program," said Head Coach Rob Jeter.

"This will be a tough challenge for us, but a good learning opportunity to show what we are made of. We had a challenging week last week and need a good bounce-back week, " said Jeter.