Montana December 3, 2020 #STORMTHESKY THUNDERBIRD BASKETBALL2020-21 schedule NON-CONFERENCE BIG SKY CONFERENCE NOV 25 @Loyola Marymount ...L, 83–85 DEC 31 @Montana ST* ................. 7PM NOV 28 ST KATHERINE ........... W, 95–47 JAN 2 @Montana ST* ............... 12PM DEC 3 MONTANA* ..................... 7PM JAN 7 IDAHO* ........................... 7PM DEC 5 MONTANA* ................... 12PM JAN 9 IDAHO* ......................... 12PM DEC 9 @Utah Valley ................... 6PM JAN 14 @Eastern Washington* .... 7PM DEC 17 DIXIE ST ........................... 7PM JAN 16 @Eastern Washington* .... 1PM DEC 18 SAGU AMERICAN INDIAN . 7PM JAN 21 @Weber ST* .................... 7PM DEC 21 BETHESDA ..................... 12PM JAN 23 WEBER ST* .................... 12PM JAN 28 @Idaho ST* ...................... 7PM JAN 30 @Idaho ST* .................... 12PM FEB 4 NORTHERN COLORADO* .. 7PM #3 JOHN FEB 6 NORTHERN COLORADO* 12PM KNIGHT III GUARD – SR FEB 18 SACRAMENTO ST* ............ 7PM JACKSON, MS FEB 20 SACRAMENTO ST* .......... 12PM FEB 25 NORTHERN ARIZONA* ..... 7PM FEB 27 @Northern Arizona* ...... 12PM MAR 4 @Portland ST* ................. 8PM MAR 6 @Portland ST* ................. 1PM *CONFERENCE GAME ALL TIMES MT BUY TICKETS WATCH BIG SKY GAMES FREE 360 N Main Street in Cedar City BRADSHAWCHEVY.COM FOR ESTABLISHED PRINCIPLES YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER Zions Bank is for you. Zions Bank has been committed to the same values for over 145 years. And for a bank to achieve that kind of consistency, it means you have to go the extra mile … and many more after that. Zions Bank is committed to community, integrity, teamwork, trust and value because we’re committed to you. Learn more at www.zionsbank.com A division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. Member FDIC © 2020 Zions Bancorporation, N.A. #15 Harrison Butler #3 John Knight III #4 Dre Marin #22 Ivan Madunic #12 Maizen Fausett GAME PREVIEW FIRST WEEK RECAP MONTANA GRIZZLIES The Thunderbirds went 1-1 to open up the season, falling The Montana Grizzlies will make the trip to Cedar City to Loyola Marymount on opening night before blowing with one game under their belt, as they fell to USC in Los out Saint Katherine 95-47 on Saturday. Angeles last Saturday 76-62. Despite a sluggish start, the Griz outscored the Trojans in the second half, but the Illinois transfer Tevian Jones was an offensive force for the lead their foe from the Pac-12 had built proved to be Thunderbirds, averaging 19.5 points per game over the insurmountable. first two contests. He shot an impressive 64 percent from the field and 60 percent from behind the three-point line. Freshman guard Brandon Whitney led the Griz in scoring against the Trojans, dropping in 17 points and shooting John Knight III continued his impressive Southern Utah 8-of-9 from the free throw line in 34 minutes off the bench. career in the first two contests, averaging 15.5 ppg and dishing out 16 total assists over the course of the week. Under the leadership of Travis DeCuire, the Grizzlies have become an absolute powerhouse in the Big Sky Harrison Butler is leading SUU’s rebounding effort with a Conference. The Griz have competed in the last two NCAA 6.5 rebounds per game average. Tournaments after claiming back-to-back Big Sky titles in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. RECORD WATCH When Southern Utah knocked off last season on the road, On Saturday, Todd Simon notched his 54th victory as head it marked the first time since December 9, 2000 that the coach of the Thunderbirds. With one more win, he will Thunderbirds had defeated the Griz. become the second-winningest coach in the program’s Division I history. Both Neil Roberts (1989-92) and Roger Reid (2008-12) finished their careers at SUU with 54 total As division one foes, the Grizzlies hold a 17-6 series victories. Simon is the fifth head coach in the program’s advantage over SUU. Division I history. Southern Utah has not beaten Montana at home since Bill Evans holds the Southern Utah men’s basketball November 19, 1999. record with 208 wins from 1992 to 2007. To read more visit: suutbirds.com COACHING STAFF HEAD COACH At the start of the 2020-21 season Todd Simon will be in his fifth year at the helm of the Southern Utah University men's basketball team after being named the head coach on March 24, 2016. Even though Simon’s fourth season at SUU ended abruptly due to COVID-19 concerns, the Thunderbirds had a lot to be proud of and set several new milestones for the program. The T-Birds ended the 2019-20 season with a 17- 15 overall record, marking the first time the program had finished above .500 since the 2006-07 season. SUU’s winning percentage of .531 was the third- highest the program had experienced since the year 2000. The Thunderbirds finished the season ranked 161st in the KenPom Rankings, which was a jump up of 112 spots from the previous year and was the highest ranking the program had reached in the KenPom Era (2001). The T-Birds were on track to make their second-consecutive postseason appearance, but all postseason play was canceled in the NCAA. TODD SIMON - HEAD COACH Simon’s third season with the program was one for the record books, and one of the most successful the program has experienced in recent memory. The Thunderbirds qualified for postseason play for the first time since 2001, and won the first postseason game in the program’s Division I history in the First Round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. The T-Birds defeated the Drake Bulldogs, who were Co-Regular Season Champions of the Missouri Valley Conference. The 2018-19 season provided several milestones. SUU finished .500 for the first time since the 2006-07 season with a mark of 17-17. The T-Birds won nine Big Sky Conference games, which was the most the program had earned since joining the league. In his second year with the team the Thunderbirds won 13 contests in 2017-18, and made it to the semifinals of the Big Sky Conference Championship Tournament for the first time in the history of the program. The 13 wins the program reached more than doubled the win total of the team Simon inherited. In his first year with the program Simon led the Thunderbirds to a first-round win at the Big Sky Road to Reno Conference Tournament with a triple overtime victory over Montana State. The Thunderbirds concluded the season with a 6-27 overall record and a 3-15 conference record. A native of Fowler, Michigan, Simon earned his bachelor's degree from Central Michigan with a double major in sport studies and management information systems in 2003. He earned his master's degree from UNLV in sport education leadership in 2010. Todd and his wife, Kati, have three sons and one daughter: Rece, Raylan, Ryder and Sophia. ASSISTANT COACHES JOHN WARDENBURG CHRIS POMPEY FLYNN CLAYMAN BRYCE MARTIN ASSOC. HEAD COACH ASSISTANT COACH ASSISTANT COACH DIR OF OPERATIONS THE OFFICIAL HOME OF THE THUNDERBIRDS FOOTBALL • MEN’S BASKETBALL TUNE IN OR STREAM LIVE TO ALL HOME AND AWAY GAMES Proud supporters of all local sports programs in Cedar City GETTING THERE IS ONLY HALF THE STORY Whatever moves you, we have the muscle to get you there. For over 65 years, Hercules Tires has been providing more drivers with the selection, value and strength to get them where they’re going—whatever the vehicle, whatever the terrain, whatever the destination. And with our powerful protection promise along for the ride, where you take the story from here is up to you. Raptis R-T5® Roadtour 855 SPE® Terra Trac® M/T Premium UHP Grand Touring Premium Mud Terrain All-Season All-Season All-Season HerculesTires.com #herculestires MILEAGE ROAD HAZARD DAY TRIAL WORKMANSHIP COVERAGE (435) 586-6607 265 W 200 N, CEDAR CITY YOUR SUU THUNDERBIRDS 2020-21 SEASON ROSTER 0 DAMANI MCENTIRE 1 NICK FLEMING 2 AANEN MOODY 3 JOHN KNIGHT III 4 DRE MARIN 6'4" GUARD SO 6’1” GUARD JR 6’3” GUARD RJR 6’3” GUARD SR 6’0” GUARD SR INDIANAPOLIS, IN ATLANTA, GA DICKINSON, ND JACKSON, MS GLENDALE, AZ 5 TEVIAN JONES 12 MAIZEN FAUSETT 13 DARNELL LATHAM JR 14 JASON SPURGIN 15 HARRISON BUTLER 6’7” GUARD JR 6’6” FORWARD JR 6’2” GUARD SR 6’11” CENTER FR 6’5” GUARD JR CHANDLER, AZ SARATOGA SPRINGS, UT CHICAGO, IL TOOWOOMBA, AUS SANTA ANA, CA 21 KINGSLEY BOX 22 IVAN MADUNIC 23 COURTESE COOPER 25 DEE BARNES 30 MARQUIS MOORE 6’5” GUARD FR 6’11” CENTER RSR 6’9” FORWARD RJR 6’4” GUARD JR 6’6” FORWARD JR MELBOURNE, AUS SPLIT, CROATIA ELGIN, IL GREAT MILLS, MD LOS ANGELES, CA 33 MARTEL WILLIAMS 6’3” GUARD FR LAS VEGAS, NV COMBINED 2020-21 Southern Utah Men's Basketball Page 1/1 Season Box Score as of Nov 30, 2020 STATS All games Game Records Record Overall Home Away Neutral ALL GAMES 1-1 1-0 0-1 0-0 CONFERENCE 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 NON-CONFERENCE 1-1 1-0 0-1 0-0 Team Box Score Total 3-Point F-Throw Rebounds No. Player GP-GS MIN AVG FG-FGA FG% 3FG-FGA 3FG% FT-FTA FT% OFF DEF TOT AVG PF DQ A TO BLK STL PTS AVG 5 JONES, Tevian 2-2 44:39 22.3 14-22 .636 6-10 .600 5-5 1.000 0 4 4 2.0 4 0 1 4 0 3 39 19.5 3 KNIGHT III, John 2-1 53:59 27.0 11-23 .478 2-5 .400 7-14 .500 2 4 6 3.0 2 0 16 5 0 1 31 15.5 12 FAUSETT, Maizen 2-2 45:57 23.0 9-14 .643 4-8 .500 2-2 1.000 3 8 11 5.5 5 0 3 4 1 2 24 12.0 15 BUTLER, Harrison 2-1 51:28 25.7 8-15 .533 3-8 .375 5-5 1.000 1 12 13 6.5 4 0 4 5 2 1 24 12.0 4 MARIN, Dre 2-2 51:41 25.8 8-15 .533 4-10 .400 1-2 .500 0 3 3 1.5 2 0 3 3 0 3 21 10.5 33 WILLIAMS, Martel 1-0 03:30 3.5 2-2 1.000 0-0 .000 1-1 1.000 0 1 1 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 5.0 22 MADUNIC, Ivan 2-2 39:32 19.8 3-5 .600 2-3 .667 1-1 1.000 3 5 8 4.0 3 0 2 2 5 0 9 4.5 1 FLEMING, Nick 1-0 17:31 17.5 2-6 .333 0-3 .000 0-0 .000 0 2 2 2.0 1 0