In a stunning turn of events, Southern Utah, ranked 293rd in the net rankings, took down Tarleton State, ranked 187th, in a heart-stopping 106-105 thriller at the America First Events Center. This monumental upset will send shockwaves through the college basketball world, as the Thunderbirds, with a lackluster 7-14 record, defied all expectations to take down a Tarleton State team that had been performing relatively well with an 11-9 record.
The game was an instant classic, with both teams trading blows and neither able to gain a decisive advantage. At halftime, Southern Utah held a slim 52-44 lead, but Tarleton State fought back in the second half, outscoring the Thunderbirds 48-40 to force overtime. In the extra period, Southern Utah managed to outscore Tarleton State 14-13, securing the one-point victory. Dylan Jones led the charge for Southern Utah, scoring 22 points, while Tanner Hayhurst and Jaiden Feroah chipped in with 20 and 17 points, respectively. Hayhurst also grabbed 7 rebounds, and Feroah added 9 rebounds to their totals.
On the other side, Dior Johnson put on a show for Tarleton State, scoring a game-high 40 points and adding 5 rebounds to his stat line. Cam McDowell and Chris Mpaka also had impressive performances, scoring 24 and 14 points, respectively, with McDowell and Mpaka each grabbing 5 and 6 rebounds. Despite Johnson's heroics, it was not enough to overcome the determined Thunderbirds.
This upset is all the more remarkable considering the significant disparity in net rankings between the two teams. Southern Utah, with a ranking of 293, was not given much of a chance against a Tarleton State team that had been performing relatively well. However, the Thunderbirds proved that on any given day, anything can happen in college basketball.
With no pre-game prediction available, this result is a reflection of the unpredictability of the sport. The fact that Southern Utah was able to pull off this upset despite being significant underdogs will be a major talking point in the coming days.
As for the tournament implications, this result will have significant consequences for both teams. For Southern Utah, this win, although a Q4 game, will be a major boost to their resume, showing that they are capable of competing with and beating teams ranked higher than them. For Tarleton State, this loss will be a tough pill to swallow, as it will likely hurt their chances of making a deep run in the tournament. The loss, also a Q4 game, will be a significant blemish on their resume, and they must regroup and refocus to get their season back on track. Ultimately, this result will have a lasting impact on the tournament chances of both teams, and it will be interesting to see how they respond in the coming weeks.