Fardaws Aimaq Notches Double-Double For UVU In Win Over UTRGV

OREM, Utah – The UVU Wolverines needed a double-double performance from Fardaws Aimaq as they beat UTRGV 78-74 in Orem on Friday night.

Fardaws Aimaq finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds as UVU got back into the win column. Jamison Overton was the other Wolverine in double figures with 14 points. Evan Cole nearly had a double-double with 8 points and 14 boards.

UTRGV was led by Anthony Bratton with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Quinton Johnson III added 15 points and 14 boards.

UT Rio Grande Valley jumped out to an 13-2 lead early before a three-pointer by Colby Leifson gave the Wolverines a spark that led to a 9-0 run. Utah Valley trailed 19-15 after Evan Cole made a free throw. UVU then went on a 7-0 run to take a two-point lead.

🔒 in #UVU #GoUVU #UVUmbb pic.twitter.com/k0bWdOSYXW

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) February 27, 2021

The Wolverines took a 35-26 halftime lead over the Vaqueros. Jamison Overton had 10 points to lead the home side. They shot 43 percent from the field and made three of their eight three-point attempts. UTRGV made 33 percent of their shots and went just 1-of-6 from beyond the arc.

UT Rio Grande turned it up in the second half and cut the deficit to within 6 points with 7:49 remaining in the game. Utah Valley held a slim four-point lead after the final media timeout of the game. The Wolverines caught a break with under 3 minutes left and a four-point lead. A UTRGV player clapped in front of an official on an out of bounds call and received a technical foul. Trey Woodbury made both free throws to put UVU up by six.

With under one minute remaining, Utah Valley had a four-point lead. UTRGV missed the two free throws but the Vaqueros grabbed two offensive rebounds and got the putback. On the ensuing possession, UVU turned the ball over with a traveling violation. The visiting team missed a open three-pointer to potentially give them the lead but Utah Valley collected the rebound. Fardaws Aimaq made one of two free throws to stretch the lead to three.

UTRGV made one of two free throws to get back within two points with 13 seconds left. The Wolverines sealed the win with a pair of free throws to put them up by four.

Utah Valley improved their record to 9-9 overall and 7-3 in Western Athletic Conference play. Both teams will play again at the UCCU Center on Saturday, February 27 at 6 p.m. MST on the KSL TV app.