S. Utah 82, Oral Roberts 75

Sunday, February 24th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CEDAR CITY, Utah (AP) _ Brian Gardner scored 18 of his season-high 25 points in the second half, leading Southern Utah back from a 10-point halftime deficit to beat Oral Roberts 82-75 on Saturday.

Gardner scored 12 of the Thunderbirds' 15 points in the final five minutes, including a 3-pointer with 4:26 left that gave Southern Utah (11-15, 8-6 Mid-Continent) a 70-67 lead.

Dan Beus, the Thunderbirds' leading scorer and rebounder, scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds before fouling out with 6:34 to play. Jay Collins scored 11 points, while Donnie Jackson and Kevin Henry added 10 each.

Reggie Borges came off the bench to lead Oral Roberts (16-13, 10-4) with 22 points and seven rebounds, while Tyrone Tiggs and Richie Myers scored 19 and 16 points, respectively.

Down 35-25 at the half, Southern Utah got back into the game with a 16-5 run to open the second half. Collins hit the Thunderbirds' only other 3-pointer with 15:43 remaining to give Southern Utah its first lead, 41-40.

Neither team led by more than four until Henry's jumper from the right side of the key gave the 'Birds a 78-72 lead with 1:09 to play. The game was tied 12 times in the second half.