Yale's opening game at the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip Off provided plenty of drama. Unfortunately, it ended in heartbreak for the Bulldogs. John Knight III hit three free throws with 0.8 seconds left in overtime to lift Southern Utah to an 88-85 victory at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena.
 
Yale's Isaiah Kelly had made two free throws with two seconds remaining to tie the score at 85, but Knight was fouled on a three-point attempt.
 
All five Bulldog starters scored in double figures, led by Azar Swain, who finished with 21 points. Kelly added a career-high 14, Matthue Cotton and Eze Dike both scored 12 and Jalen Gabbidon contributed 11.
 
The game featured seven ties and four lead changes.
 
The Thunderbirds (2-3) forced overtime when Maizen Fausett made three free throws with 13 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 73.
 
Fausett finished with 20 points and Tevian Jones scored 24 to pace Southern Utah.
 
The Bulldogs (3-3) shot 52 percent from the field in the first half in building a 39-33 lead.
 
The Thunderbirds, though, used a 16-2 run early in the second half to tie the score at 51. Yale responded with eight straight points, but Southern Utah again rallied to force the extra period.
 
The Thunderbirds, a preseason favorite in the Big Sky conference, finished 20-4 last year, posting the best winning percentage in school history, and were coming off a double overtime loss at California.
 
The Bulldogs play in the consolation game of the Palms Division bracket on Wednesday at 11 a.m.