A Fresh Start - CH2K8 Legacy

[JJ4]

Southern Utah (6-10, 2-4) at South Dakota State (8-9, 3-4)

Once again the Thunderbirds were an underdog. This time, however, they would fail to prove anybody wrong. South Dakota State jumped out to a 22-7 lead and would never relinquish it. They would lead at break 45-22. Julian Scott scored nearly all Southern Utah's first half points. (15 points, 5 rebounds - 7/16 FG). Southern Utah shot just 28% (1/9 3pt) to South Dakota State's 56% (4/7 3pt). South Dakota State also doubled up the Thunderbirds on rebounds 22-11.

South Dakota State would control most of the second half, but Southern Utah would dominate the latter part. It wouldn't change anything but make the beating not look so bad.

Southern Utah: 58
South Dakota State: 67

Southern Utah
39% FG
2/13 3pt
28 rebounds

J. Scott: 25 points, 9 rebounds (12/25 FG)
J. Cheeseman: 15 points, 4 rebounds (6/13 FG)

S.D. State
52% FG
5/12 3pt
40 rebounds

B. Carlson: 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists (7/11 FG, 2/3 3pt)
C. White: 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists (5/10 FG, 1/5 3pt)
J. Dykstra: 9 points, 10 rebounds (4/7 FG)
T. Fiegen: 12 points, 7 rebounds (4/10 FG)

[JJ4]

Southern Utah (6-11, 2-5) vs North Carolina Central (7-12, 2-5)

It was an absolute must win for both teams if they wanted to have a shot at winning the Summit League. The loser would have almost no shot at gaining enough ground. Southern Utah would have to contain N.C. Central's guard- who is averaging a nation leading 26.3 PPG.

The Thunderbirds would control almost the entire first half. North Carolina Central would go on a little run at the end to close the gap to 32-28 at the break - Southern Utah up. They were controlling everything inside. They shot 43% from the field (2/8 3pt) but scored 20 points inside. N.C. Central would only get 10 points in the paint and shoot just 37% from the field (2/8 3pt). J. Scott had 10 points (5/12 FG) and five rebounds for Southern Utah. M. Nakwaasah had 14 points (5/10 FG, 2/5 3pt) in the first half for N.C. Central. Just 12 shy of his season average.

N.C. Central would jump out to a 42-40 lead with in the first five minutes. Coach Haas would take a timeout and let his team have it. They would proceed to dominate and outscore N.C. Central 40-20 the rest of the way en route to a much needed win.

Southern Utah: 80
N.C. Central: 62

Southern Utah
49% FG
9/18 3pt
5/11 FT
40 Points in the paint

C. Nsenki: 6 points, 11 assists, 5 turnovers (2/7 FG, 2/4 3pt)
J. Johnson: 23 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals (9/17 FG, 5/9 3pt)
J. Scott: 19 points, 13 rebounds (9/20 FG)
J. Cheeseman: 8 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks (3/6 FG)
C. Hanks: 14 points, 7 rebounds (6/8 FG)
A.J. Hess: 10 points, 4 rebounds (4/7 FG, 2/4 3pt)

N.C. Central
35% FG
6/17 3pt
14/22 FT
20 points in the paint

M. Nakwaasah: 34 points, 5 turnovers (11/22 FG, 6/10 3pt, 8/8 FT)
R. Groves: 10 points, 9 assists, 3 turnovers (3/5 FG, 4/6 FT)

(no idea why Nakwaasah is on N.C. Central but whatever lol)

[JJ4]

Sim Results

So. Utah (7-11, 3-5) vs Oral Roberts (6-10, 4-3)

W - 78-48

J. Scott: 23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists (8/12 FG, 7/9 FT)

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Summit League Standings

01. North Dakota State (11-6, 7-2)
02. IUPUI (11-6, 7-2)
03. Oakland (9-8, 6-3)
04. UMKC (11-9, 6-3)
05. Southern Utah (8-11, 4-5)
06. Oral Roberts (6-12, 4-5)
07. South Dakota State (9-10, 4-5)
08. Western Illinois (8-9, 4-5)
09. N.C. Central (7-14, 2-7)
10. IPFW (3-15, 1-8)

Top 25

01. Memphis (17-2)
02. Duke (15-2)
03. Baylor (17-1)
04. Florida (16-4)
05. Kansas (14-4)
06. Kentucky (15-5)
07. Syracuse (16-5)
08. Notre Dame (14-4)
09. Maryland (13-4)
10. San Diego State (15-4)
11. UConn (13-7)
12. Arizona (11-8)
13. VCU (14-5)
14. Iowa (15-6)
15. Boise State (16-3)
16. Akron (14-4)
17. Wisconsin (12-7)
18. Gonzaga (14-7)
19. Colorado (14-4)
20. Mississippi State (14-5)
21. Oregon (14-6)
22. New Mexico (13-6)
23. Harvard (15-3)
24. Wichita State (16-5)
25. South Carolina (13-5)

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Sim Results

So. Utah (8-11, 4-5) at IUPUI (11-6, 7-2)

W - 65-61

J. Cheeseman: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks (5/10 FG, 6/8 FT)





So. Utah (9-11, 5-5) at Western Illinois (8-10, 4-6)

L - 61-44

J. Scott: 10 points, 3 rebounds, 5 turnovers (4/14FG)

[JJ4]

Southern Utah (9-12, 5-6) vs UMKC (13-9, 8-3)

It was an important game for Southern Utah. They have to play UMKC, South Dakota State and North Dakota State consecutively. They only stand three games behind North Dakota State for first place.

If you looked at just the halftime statistics you'd think it was a complete and utter blow out. There was no way Southern Utah should have been even close - but they were. UMKC had control all first half but could never really deliver a knock out punch despite the Thunderbirds horrid shooting. Why? Because UMKC struggled shooting themselves - but not nearly as bad. UMKC shot 36% from the field (6/10 3pt) and 5/6 from the charity stripe. Southern Utah shot an astonishing 17% from the field (2/18 3pt) and 7/11 from the charity stripe. UMKC led at halftime 29-23.

UMKC would start the second half on an 11-4 run and lead 40-27. They looked to take complete control and run away with the game. Southern Utah, however, would get ripped into by Coach Haas. It clearly worked as they would completely dominate the rest of the game. After going down 13 to start the second half, they would go on a 27-9 run to take a 64-49 lead. UMKC would never be able to close the gap and fall to the Thunderbirds.

Southern Utah: 74
UMKC: 58

Southern Utah
33% FG
5/27 3pt
15/22 FT
50 Rebounds
19 Offensive Rebounds
34 Points in the Paint

J. Johnson: 18 points (7/18 FG, 3/9 3pt)
J. Scott: 17 points, 9 rebounds (5/13 FG, 7/11 FT)
J. Cheeseman: 6 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists (2/5 FG)
C. Hanks: 16 points, 10 rebounds (7/11 FG)
A.J. Hess: 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists (3/16 FG, 1/7 3pt)

UMKC
36% FG
11/29 3pt
7/10 FT
38 Rebounds
5 Offensive rebounds
8 Points in the Paint

N. Kirksey: 20 points, 3 assists (7/14 FG, 5/10 3pt)
K. Korver: 16 points (6/18 FG, 4/15 3pt)

[JJ4]

Southern Utah (10-12, 6-6) vs South Dakota State (11-12, 6-7)


The Thunderbirds looked to revenge that embarrassing loss at South Dakota State a couple weeks ago. You could tell from the get go they had a mission and they set out to complete that mission. They jumped out to a 27-9 lead over S.D. State. It would, however, dwindle down to a 38-30 Southern Utah halftime lead. J. Johnson was on fire in the first half scoring 10 points on 3/5 3pt shooting. S.D. State was lead by Chad White with 8 points (4/8 FG). Southern Utah shot 45% from the field and 6/14 from deep while S.D. State shot 46% from the field (0/5 3pt).

South Dakota State would pick up where they left off after going down 18 early on. They'd jump out to a 47-40 early second half lead. Once again, Coach Haas would take a timeout and lay into his team. And just like the previous times they would respond. They'd climb back and take a 53-51 lead after a J. Johnson three pointer. They would then fend off any S.D. State comeback victory - despite struggling shooting all second half.

Southern Utah: 70
South Dakota State: 65

Southern Utah
36% FG
9/26 3pt (3/12 second half)
13/15 FT
23 Bench Points

J. Johnson: 16 points, 4 rebounds (5/18 FG, 5/12 3pt)
J. Scott: 16 points, 5 rebounds (5/10 FG)
A.J. Hess: 16 points, 4 rebounds (4/13 FG, 3/8 3pt)

S.D. State
45% FG
2/16 3pt
9/15 FT
4 Bench Points

B. Carlson: 10 points, 4 rebounds (4/11 FG, 0/5 3pt)
C. White: 24 points, 6 rebounds (10/21 FG, 2/8 3pt)
J. Dykstra: 16 points, 9 rebounds (6/12 FG)

[JJ4]

There. All caught up on updates now. Feels good lol. I only have a few games left in the season. I will for sure play my rematch with North Dakota State. I think after that game there's only four games left in the regular season. I may sim those and jump into the conference tournament. It'll depend on the conference standings. After the N.D. State game I'll give a Summit League Standings update (probably top 25 too). Then I'll monitor it before and after every game I sim.

There's a possibility if I do play another game it'll be senior night.

[Deuce2223]

Hopefully you can keep a win streaking going. Another 3 or 4 W's would provide a above .500 Overall and Summit League finish, and be a nice building block for the future

[JJ4]

Updates coming today