Utah Valley Outlasts Northern Arizona In Overtime

SALT LAKE CITY – After taking a commanding lead in the second half against Northern Arizona, Utah Valley University needed overtime but eventually got the win 80-75.

The win moved the Wolverines to 6-4 on the season. The win came behind a resounding performance from the starters for the Wolverines, four of five starters for the Wolverines posted fifteen or more points in the win.

Trey Woodbury and Le’Tre Darthard led the way with 16 points for the Wolverines in the win.

Utah Valley’s perimeter defense was tremendous in the win as the Wolverines only allowed NAU to shoot 29 percent from three-point range in the victory.

The Wolverines meanwhile had an average day from deep shooting just 35 percent from three and 44 percent from the field.

The difference in this game was Utah Valley’s defensive hustle. Head coach Mark Madsen’s hard-nosed defensive style was on full display as the Wolverines get the win.

Friday night game prep in Flagstaff. #UVUhoops #UVU #WAChoops #GoUVU pic.twitter.com/4IoGTQZjXN

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) December 10, 2022

First Half

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The Wolverines closed the first half of play against NAU, up 35-32. Trey Woodbury led the way in scoring putting up 10 points in the first frame of play.

Woodbury shot 3-6 from the field in the first half and also tallied two rebounds and 1 assist. The Wolverines shot 11-24 from the field in the first half of the game, a 45 percent clip.

UVU did really well moving the ball to secure open shots, a result of that the Wolverines shot 40 percent from three-point range in the first half of the game.

The Wolverines won the first-half battle on the glass outrebounding NAU 18 to 14. Off the bench Tim Ceaser led the charge on the glass, gathering six rebounds in the first half alone.

A defensive struggle, both teams struggled to score in the first half. Both teams played a very physical brand of basketball in the first half.

Halftime in Flagstaff#UVUhoops #UVU #GoUVU pic.twitter.com/cxJW7sA5Vf

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) December 10, 2022

Second Half

The Wolverines started the second half on a 10-2 run punctuated by a Justin Harmon and one on a beautiful crossover and drive to the hoop.

Le’Tre Darthard got to the line four times within the second media frame of play in the second half. Darthard’s uncanny ability to get contested in the lane was on full display early in the second half. NAU struggled to put together a scoring spell early on in the second half, Utah Valley early in the second half did a tremendous job of getting answers to NAU buckets.

NAU cut the lead to three but Harmon immediately responded with a corner three that put the Wolverines up 60-54.

NAU made a last push in the final four minutes and ties the game at 68-68.

Overtime

A resounding Aziz Bandaogo dunk gave UVU a 76-70 lead with a minute remaining in overtime.

Darthhard and Woodbury both nailed free throw sets down the stretch and UVU escaped Northern Arizona with a win 80-75.