Southern Utah Wins First-Ever Big Sky Conference Championship

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Southern Utah men’s basketball team won the 2020-21 Big Sky Conference regular season title after defeating the Portland State Vikings.

It’s SUU’s first-ever Big Sky title in men’s basketball.

The Vikings hosted the Thunderbirds on Saturday, March 6.

Southern Utah used a dominant first half performance to cruise past the Vikings, 73-54.

With the victory, SUU finished the regular season atop the Big Sky standings with a 12-2 record in conference play.

BREAKING: @SUUBasketball is the 2020-21 @BigSkyConf regular season champions. ⚡️🏆 #TBirdNation #BigSkyMBB #LetEmKnow

📷: @SUUThunderbirds pic.twitter.com/rH36UEGIqw

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 6, 2021

After outscoring the Vikings by 16 points in the first half, the T-Birds flew to an easy 19-point win over the final 20 minutes of action.

FINAL | It’s official. 🏆⚡️

REGULAR SEASON CHAMPS‼️#StormTheSky x #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/nBIvXcm6uC

— SUU Men's Basketball (@SUUBasketball) March 6, 2021

Southern Utah finished the contest shooting 60.0 percent from the field and 42.9 percent on three-pointers.

John Knight III led the Thunderbirds with 26 points.

TIED HIS CAREER-HIGH, GOING 11 FOR 13 😵

MVP MVP MVP MVP @__Jgotti3 YOU EARNED THIS. #StormTheSky x #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/MfZgApHKvH

— SUU Men's Basketball (@SUUBasketball) March 6, 2021

Dre Marin added 19 points.

The Vikings were limited to 36.4 percent shooting, including 28.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Portland State was carried by James Scott’s 17 points.

BIG SKY REGULAR SEASON 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 💍⚡️#StormTheSky x #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/eDY7GC5QBK

— SUU Men's Basketball (@SUUBasketball) March 6, 2021

With the win, the T-Birds improved their overall record to 19-3 this season.

Southern Utah’s next scheduled game will be in the upcoming Big Sky Tournament in Boise, Idaho. The tournament will begin in mid-March.