CEDAR CITY, Utah (Interstat) — Southern Utah outlasted Tarleton State 106-105 in overtime Thursday night in a Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball game at Centrum Arena. The Thunderbirds, who led 52-44 at halftime, survived a second-half rally by the Texans that forced the extra period. Dior Johnson led all scorers with 40 points for Tarleton State. Camron McDowell added 24 for the Texans. Southern Utah was paced by Tanner Hayhurst’s 20 points and Dylan Jones’ 22. The Thunderbirds made 31 of 42 free throws, while Tarleton State hit 21 of 28. Southern Utah improved to 5-13 overall. Tarleton State fell to 11-7. Attendance was 955.

CEDAR CITY, Utah (Interstat) — In a Western Athletic Conference thriller that defied both expectations and a late double-digit deficit, Southern Utah outlasted Tarleton State 106-105 in overtime on Thursday night at Centrum Arena. The game, witnessed by 955 fans, was a stark contrast to pregame projections. National Statistical’s ELO system had given Tarleton State a 77.2% probability to win, and the combined score of 211 points shattered an over/under line set at 152.5. The victory snapped a three-game skid for the Thunderbirds, who improved to 5-13 overall, while the Texans fell to 11-7. The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final chaotic seconds of regulation and extended into the extra period, transforming what seemed like a certain Tarleton State road win into a stunning Southern Utah comeback. Tarleton State, which had trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half, mounted a fierce second-half rally behind the spectacular scoring of guard Dior Johnson. The Kingston, New York, native poured in a game-high 40 points, fueling a Texans offense that erased the deficit and built a 92-88 lead with just 33 seconds remaining in the second half. Southern Utah, however, refused to capitulate. After a Tarleton State turnover, Dylan Jones of Saratoga Springs, Utah, drilled a clutch 3-pointer from an assist by Lorenzo Abellar with 4.9 seconds left in overtime to pull the Thunderbirds within 103-101. Following a quick Texans basket, Southern Utah’s Elijah Duval was fouled on a desperation heave with 0.2 seconds on the clock. Duval coolly sank the first two free throws to tie the game at 105 and, after a Tarleton State technical foul, made the third to secure the dramatic 106-105 victory. The final possession for the Texans ended with a missed layup as time expired. The game was a tale of contrasting efficiencies. Southern Utah won despite attempting 11 fewer field goals than Tarleton State. The Thunderbirds’ advantage came at the free-throw line, where they made 31 of 42 attempts compared to Tarleton State’s 21 of 28, and from beyond the arc, hitting 13 3-pointers to the Texans’ eight. Tarleton State dominated inside, scoring 54 points in the paint to Southern Utah’s 36, and forced 18 turnovers, but it was not enough to overcome the Thunderbirds’ late poise. Johnson’s 40-point effort for Tarleton State was complemented by 24 points from Camron McDowell of Griffin, Georgia. For Southern Utah, a balanced attack proved decisive. Tanner Hayhurst of Eagle, Idaho, led the way with 20 points and four assists in 42 minutes, while Jones added 22 points, fueled by a 6-for-13 shooting night from 3-point range. Jaiden Feroah of Draper, Utah, provided 17 points off the bench, and Jalen Lee of Atlanta contributed 14 points, including several key baskets in the second half and overtime. The first half set a frantic offensive pace, with Southern Utah taking a 52-44 lead into the break behind hot 3-point shooting. The Thunderbirds maintained that lead for much of the second half until Johnson and McDowell ignited the Texans’ charge, setting the stage for the frantic finish. Southern Utah will look to build on the momentum when it hosts Abilene Christian on Saturday. Tarleton State, meanwhile, will aim to regroup quickly for a road game at Utah Tech the same day. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Cedar City on Feb. 7.

CEDAR CITY, Utah (Interstat) — A surging Tarleton State team riding high-scoring guard Dior Johnson visits a struggling Southern Utah squad seeking a conference breakthrough when the Western Athletic Conference foes meet Thursday night at Centrum Arena. The Texans (11-6, 2-2 WAC) have won four of their last six, largely powered by the explosive offense of Johnson. The guard is averaging 26.2 points over his last five games, including three performances of 33 points or more. He scored 33 in a tight 84-80 home loss to Abilene Christian last Thursday. Kade Douglas and Chris Mpaka have provided consistent secondary scoring. Conversely, the Thunderbirds (4-13, 0-4) are mired in a six-game losing streak and are still searching for their first WAC victory of the season. Their last three conference losses have been by single digits, including a 58-55 defeat at California Baptist last Saturday. Forward Jaiden Feroah has been a bright spot, averaging 11.2 points and 2.0 blocks over the last five games. Southern Utah’s defense, allowing 77.2 points per game, faces a stern test against a Tarleton State offense that has eclipsed 80 points in three of its last four outings. The Texans’ recent success includes an overtime win over California Baptist and a road victory at Texas-Arlington. The Thunderbirds will need to contain Johnson and find more consistent offense beyond Feroah to snap their skid. Southern Utah has not won since a Dec. 1 non-conference rout of West Coast Baptist. This matchup is the first of two scheduled meetings between the teams this season. They are slated to play again in Stephenville, Texas, on Feb. 19. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MST at Centrum Arena.