Southern Utah opens the 2011 Summit League tournament Saturday at 5 p.m. MST in Sioux Falls, S.D., against top-seeded Oakland.

The Thunderbirds won three of their past four games — and five of their past eight — to finish 11-18 overall and 7-11 in the conference.

They are the No. 8 seed in the tournament.

Oakland finished 22-9 overall and 17-1 in the league, including an 82-68 win in Cedar City last Saturday.

The Golden Grizzlies are led by 6-foot-11 center Keith Benson, the Summit League Player of the Year who averages 17.7 points and 10.2 rebounds.

Oakland, which has won 15 of its past 16 games, was the first team in the country to clinch a regular-season conference title.

The Golden Grizzlies won at Tennessee 89-82 on Dec. 14.

Southern Utah does not have a player who averages in double figures, but the Thunderbirds are balanced.

Senior guard Ryan Brimley (9.7), junior center Matt Massey (9.6), sophomore forward Jackson Stevenett (9.4) and junior guard Ray Jones (9.1) all average at least nine points per game.

If the improving Thunderbirds can upset Oakland and make a run in the postseason, they might help cement coach Roger Reid's future.

Reid is 40-79 in four seasons at SUU. He has one year remaining on his original contract with the school.