Utah Tech snaps losing streak, knocks off rival SUU in WAC Tournament

ST. GEORGE — In an intense rivalry matchup to open the WAC Tournament, No. 9 seed Utah Tech took down No. 8 seed Southern Utah 72-65 on Tuesday afternoon at Burns Arena.

The Trailblazers (7-25, 2-14 WAC) snapped a 14-game losing streak and advanced to the quarterfinals, where they will face top-seeded Utah Valley in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

"I don't think anybody played great, but I thought we played good as a team, and that's what we were talking about," Utah Tech head coach Jon Judkins said. "We've got to have that team effort."

The game began as a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading baskets early; however, Utah Tech's sharpshooting began to take over, led by the duo of Noa Gonsalves and Hakim Byrd, who found their rhythm on offense.

The Trailblazers relied heavily on their 3-point shooting, draining eight first-half triples to build a 38-27 halftime lead. Byrd was instrumental, scoring 14 points and adding two steals, while Gonsalves contributed 6 points and three rebounds.

Southern Utah (12-19, 4-12 WAC) struggled to find offensive consistency, with Dominique Ford providing the bulk of the scoring in the first half, finishing with 10 points.

Turnovers also plagued the Thunderbirds, as Utah Tech forced key mistakes to capitalize on transition opportunities, scoring 9 points off turnovers compared to Southern Utah's 2.

Utah Tech came out of the locker room firing, quickly extending its lead to 20 points; however, Southern Utah refused to go down without a fight. Midway through the second half, the Thunderbirds found momentum, cutting the deficit to single digits behind Xavier Sykes and Jamir Simpson.

Sykes provided a spark off the bench, knocking down a quick layup and a 3-pointer to bring Southern Utah within 5 points with five minutes left.

Despite Southern Utah's comeback push, Utah Tech had an answer each time, responding with timely buckets from beyond the arc and maintaining composure in the closing minutes. Free throws played a major role down the stretch, with both teams in the double bonus.

Ford's clutch free throws brought Southern Utah within 3 with just over two minutes to play, but Sykes' crucial missed free throws in the final 30 seconds sealed the Thunderbirds' fate.

"They're a good team. I knew it was gonna be a fight. That's us and Cedar — every game is always gonna be like that," Judkins said. "But we stayed composed and played with a lead, and that was key."

Byrd led the way for Utah Tech with a game-high 19 points, adding two rebounds and three steals. The Trailblazers shot an efficient 10-of-19 from three-point range and 12-of-18 from the free-throw line. Gonsalves provided a steady presence, while Beon Riley contributed on both ends of the floor.

For Southern Utah, Simpson stepped up with 13 points and seven rebounds, while Ford finished with 16 points, and three rebounds.

Utah Tech now turns its focus to a major test against No. 1 seed Utah Valley in Las Vegas on Wednesday at 5 p.m. MDT.

"We're gonna enjoy this one, and then we gotta be ready to go because Utah Valley is really, really good," Judkins said. "So we'll get some rest and see what we can do."

The Trailblazers' first WAC Tournament win in program history proved it can compete when it matters most.

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