Southern Utah Men's Basketball gave Cedar City fans an encouraging first look Monday, beating Ottawa University Arizona 78-51 in an exhibition at the America First Event Center.

The Southern Utah basketball score told the story of a comfortable finish, though the Thunderbirds had to build on an eight-point halftime lead. After leading 32-24 at the break, Southern Utah outscored the Spirit 46-27 in the second half and turned a promising start into a decisive win.

Exhibitions cannot settle what a team will become, but this one offered Cedar City plenty to appreciate before the regular season begins.

Newcomer JaJuan Nicholls led the Thunderbirds with 20 points, giving the home crowd an early glimpse of his scoring ability. The junior transfer made all six of his second-half shots, including three dunks, and collected eight rebounds. His first two baskets also helped Southern Utah get moving before the offense found a broader rhythm.

Returning graduate student Jaiden Feroah supplied a different kind of lift, grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds as Southern Utah controlled the glass. Feroah scored seven first-half points, including a three-pointer and a dunk, during a 9-0 opening run.

For a team introducing new faces, that combination of returning experience and immediate newcomer production was a welcome sign.

The clearest separation came in the rebounding battle, where the Thunderbirds finished with a 47-23 advantage. Those extra possessions helped Southern Utah keep pressure on Ottawa even when the game was still within reach.

The Thunderbirds shot 48% from the field while holding the Spirit to 37.7%, another indication of their advantage at both ends. Southern Utah also forced 15 turnovers, recorded 10 steals and scored 17 points off Ottawa's mistakes.

Just as importantly, the offense did not depend on one scorer: Ten Thunderbirds made a basket, and the bench contributed 37 points.

Jordan Brown, Mikhail Protsenko and Anthony Breland each scored nine points, giving the rotation several ways to contribute.  Protsenko made all three of his second-half attempts, while Breland added three assists and helped create a fast-break dunk for Nicholls.

Chase DeGraffenried paced the team with four assists as the Thunderbirds shared the ball throughout the night.

That balance may matter more than the final margin once opponents have a better read on Southern Utah's lineup.

Still, the SUU basketball exhibition offered a convincing first look for a Cedar City crowd eager to see how the pieces fit. The victory does not count toward Southern Utah's regular-season record, so the result is a starting point rather than a season benchmark.

The Thunderbirds are set to open regular-season play November 2 against West Coast Baptist College at the America First Event Center.

For now, a strong night on the boards and contributions across the roster give Southern Utah something useful to carry into that opener.