OMAHA, Neb. (Interstat) — In a back-and-forth contest defined by offensive efficiency and clutch free-throw shooting, the Omaha Mavericks outlasted the Southern Utah Thunderbirds 90-85 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Saturday night at Baxter Arena.

A crowd of 3,515 saw the Mavericks, led by a game-high 27 points from Tony Osburn, secure their first victory of the season, improving to 1-3. The Thunderbirds, despite a pair of 20-point performances from Zach Bell and Elijah Duval, fell to an identical 1-3 record.

The game was a tale of contrasting strengths. Omaha’s victory was fueled by remarkable accuracy from beyond the arc and the free-throw line. The Mavericks shot a blistering 53% from 3-point range, converting 10 of 19 attempts, and were nearly perfect from the charity stripe, making 20 of 25 free throws. Southern Utah, meanwhile, dominated the glass, outrebounding Omaha 41-26 and grabbing 11 offensive rebounds to the Mavericks’ 5, but struggled from deep, hitting just 7 of 28 3-point attempts.

Osburn, a 6-foot-2 guard from Fairfax, Missouri, was the catalyst for Omaha, playing 31 minutes and adding four assists to his scoring total. His backcourt partner, Grant Stubblefield of Overland Park, Kansas, provided crucial support with 15 points and a team-high six assists in 36 minutes. The Mavericks’ offense operated with high efficiency, posting an offensive rating of 117.1 by scoring 90 points on just 77 possessions.

Southern Utah countered with a balanced and persistent attack. Bell, a 6-foot-2 guard from Barnwell, South Carolina, poured in his 20 points in just 24 minutes of action. Duval, a 6-foot-3 guard from Wilmington, Delaware, also scored 20 points and dished out a game-high five assists. Inside, Jaiden Feroah, a 6-foot-9 forward from Draper, Utah, was a force with 16 points and two blocks, while Cale Barclay of Herriman, Utah, and Isaiah Cottrell of Las Vegas added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The first half set the stage for the tight finish. Omaha took a narrow 42-38 lead into the break, thanks in part to 12 first-half points from Julian Margrave off the bench. The Louisburg, Kansas, native finished with 12 points, all from 3-point range. The Mavericks’ sharp shooting from deep kept them in front despite Southern Utah’s relentless work on the offensive boards.

The second half saw both teams continue to trade baskets. The Thunderbirds’ offensive rating of 113.2 was strong, but they could never quite close the gap completely against an Omaha team that answered nearly every challenge. A key differentiator down the stretch was Omaha’s composure at the free-throw line. In the final minutes, the Mavericks consistently converted their opportunities, with Osburn and Stubblefield calmly sinking critical shots to keep Southern Utah at bay.

Khamani Cooper provided a valuable spark off the bench for Omaha, scoring 10 points. Lance Waddles of Shreveport, Louisiana, facilitated the offense with five assists.

Defensively, both teams were active, with Southern Utah recording nine steals and three blocks to Omaha’s seven steals and two blocks. Each team committed 10 turnovers.

The win provides a momentum boost for Omaha as they look to build on their first victory. The Mavericks are scheduled to host Concordia on Wednesday. Southern Utah, facing a tough stretch, will travel to face Gonzaga on Monday.