Utah Valley Completes Second Half Comeback, Survive Frenzied Final Seconds In Phoenix

Jan 21, 2023, 8:22 PM | Updated: Jan 23, 2023, 12:20 pm

KSL Sports

OREM, Utah – Le’Tre Darthard’s 25 points helped Utah Valley extend the nation’s longest road win streak to seven with a 76-74 come from behind win over Grand Canyon.

The Wolverines (16-5, 7-1) traveled to Phoenix, AZ where they faced the Grand Canyon Antelopes (13-7, 4-3) at GCU Arena on Saturday, January 21.

Final in Phoenix!#UVUhoops #UVU #UVUatGCU pic.twitter.com/lzrZesu0QA

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) January 22, 2023

After seeing their 11-game winning streak come to an end against Seattle last week, the Wolverines resumed their winning ways against Abilene Christian. UVU dominated the Wildcats, coming out on top 84-54.

The Antelopes are looking for their second straight win over a Utah opponent after knocking off the Utah Tech Trailblazers 89-85 earlier in the week.

Darthard’s 25 led all scorers. Trey Woodbury scored 15 first half points on his way to 19 for the game. Tim Fuller added ten points in the win.

Ray Harrison scored a team-high 18 points before fouling out in the final minute. Four other Antelopes scored in double-figures with Noah Baumann’s 14 leading the way.

First Half

Utah Valley jumped out to a 6-0 lead out of the blocks. Aziz Bandaogo punctuated the early run when he threw down an alley-oop dunk on a pass from Justin Harmon.

Harmon with the lob to Bandaogo!!#UVUhoops #UVU #UVUatGCU pic.twitter.com/52Bpnebt8c

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) January 22, 2023

Trey Woodbury was hot early for the Wolverines. UVU’s second leading scorer hit the first shot of the game. He would end up scoring nine of their first 13 points.

Grand Canyon wasn’t deterred, taking their first lead of the game at 16-15 after a Chance McMillan three.

Later in the half with the Antelopes threatening to pull away, Le’Tre Darthard drove all the way to the basket, drawing a foul and hitting a layup in one motion. After knocking down the free throw, Utah Valley trailed 28-24 with 4:28 left in the half.

Grand Canyon took a 36-32 lead into the half. Woodbury led all scorers with 15 first half points. Ray Harrison’s nine points led the Antelopes at the half.

Second Half

Out of the break, Utah Valley got hot.

The Wolverines made their first four shots of the half, taking a 41-40 when Justin Harmon took advantage of a steal by Darthard, finishing the ensuing fast break with a dunk.

Darthard steal + save to Woodbury = Harmon dunk!#UVUhoops #UVU #UVUatGCU pic.twitter.com/bVVUdWZQhh

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) January 22, 2023

Utah Valley continued playing above the rim with Woodbury finding Bandaogo for his third dunk of the game.

Woodbury ⬆️ Bandaogo ⬇️#UVUhoops #UVU #UVUatGCU pic.twitter.com/CkEKTtY6ym

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) January 22, 2023

UVU built a five point lead but couldn’t maintain the advantage for long.

Grand Canyon used an 11-2 run to storm back, taking a 58-53 lead with 9:45 left.

After a technical foul was whistled on Woodbury with 6:55 left, the momentum seemed to shift. An 8-2 Wolverine run turned a six point deficit into a 65-65 tie with 4:33 to go.

Tim Fuller with the follow!#UVUhoops #UVU #UVUatGCU pic.twitter.com/7BQyXxwGZE

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) January 22, 2023

The game remained tight with Utah Valley scoring on their end but unable to get a defensive stop down the stretch.

After a GCU turnover, Darthard knocked down both free throws to give his team a 69-67 lead with 2:47 remaining. After another Antelope turnover, Tim Fuller hit another pair of free throws, extending the Wolverine lead to four.

Utah Valley’s run extended to 10-0 with a Darthard layup and two more free throws from Blaze Nield. UVU held a 75-69 lead with 1:21 left.

Out of a timeout, an errant Tim Fuller pass ended up in a three-point play for GCU. After the free throw, UVU led 75-72.

The Wolverines would go on to miss three of four free throws down the stretch but did just enough to pick up the 76-74 comeback win.

Up Next

The Wolverines return to Utah where they will face the Thunderbirds of Southern Utah (14-6, 6-1) at the America First Event Center on Thursday, January 26. Tip-off for this game is scheduled for 7 p.m. (MST).