Utah Valley Advances In NIT Tournament With Win Over Colorado Buffaloes

BOULDER, Colorado – The Utah Valley Wolverines men’s basketball team traveled to the CU Events Center to take on the Colorado Buffaloes in the second round of the NIT Tournament on Sunday.

Justin Harmon scored a career-high 32 points as Utah Valley set a program record for wins, topping New Mexico 83-69 in the first round of the tournament. The Buffaloes last game was a narrow 1-point victory over the Seton Hall Pirates.

The winner of the game will go on to play the Cincinnati Bearcats in the next round.

First Half

Harmon opened up scoring for the Wolverines with an easy layup.

Trey Woodbury got a three-pointer to drop.

Trey Wood from long range!!!#UVUhoops #UVUatCU #NITMBB #NIT2023 pic.twitter.com/BRbvJplJ7u

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) March 20, 2023

UVU shot well from behind the arc early on. But, both teams did much of their damage in the paint.

Le’Tre Darthard got a nice spinning layup to fall.

Le’Tre with the left hand.#UVUhoops #UVUatCU #NITMBB #NIT2023 pic.twitter.com/cxFBMRQwRI

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) March 20, 2023

Of the first 40 points scored by both teams, 30 came from inside the paint.

UVU’s Woodbury and CU’s Lawson Lovering lead all scorers with 10 points each.

Trey Woodbury is good at basketball!!#UVUhoops #UVUatCU #NITMBB #NIT2023 pic.twitter.com/notIMLJZVD

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) March 20, 2023

Ten minutes into the half, the game was tied at 19.

Tahj Small checked in and immediately made a three for the Wolverines.

Tahj Small from deep!!#UVUhoops #UVUatCU #NITMBB #NIT2023 pic.twitter.com/0JYOL5PX3e

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) March 20, 2023

The first half was all offense for both sides. Utah Valley shot 52% from the field in the first half. Colorado shot 55%.

Ethan Potter 3️⃣#UVUhoops #UVUatCU #NITMBB #NIT2023 pic.twitter.com/bFToiJiG2a

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) March 20, 2023

UVU tied the game by making 3 more threes than the Buffaloes in the half.

Ethan Potter from three PART II#UVUhoops #UVUatCU #NITMBB #NIT2023 pic.twitter.com/U4CWc8gJvO

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) March 20, 2023

Utah Valley and Colorado were tied heading into the half, 38-38.

Halftime in Boulder.#UVUhoops #UVUatCU #NITMBB #NIT2023 pic.twitter.com/Nd8Q8crMYN

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) March 20, 2023

Second Half

Aziz Bandaogo got the second half started with a powerful move in the paint.

Trey Woodbury threw down a nasty fastbreak dunk to give UVU their largest lead of the game off of a 7-0 run.

Le’Tre with the steal and Trey Woodbury puts some JAM on his toast!!!#UVUhoops #UVUatCU #NITMBB #NIT2023#UVUhoops # pic.twitter.com/oNcTrToDoP

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) March 20, 2023

Colorado’s Lovering stopped the bleeding with a mid-range jumpshot.

Le’Tre Darthard and Ethan Wright traded threes on back-to-back possessions.

Woodbury and Lovering continued to lead their respective squads on offense. Woodbury showed off his three-level scoring ability.

Trey Wood making it look easy!#UVUhoops #UVUatCU #NITMBB #NIT2023 pic.twitter.com/JRTw6XzqGM

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) March 20, 2023

Tristan Da Silva scored on two straight possessions to drop the Utah Valley lead to one.

Bandaogo hit a post fadeaway to give UVU a 2-point lead with ten minutes left in the game.

After Colorado re-tied the game at 58, Utah Valley answered with a 7-0 run.

Trey Wood 😱#UVUhoops #UVUatCU #NITMBB #NIT2023 pic.twitter.com/W7DobxQhiO

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) March 20, 2023

Woodbury connected with Bandaogo on a highlight alley-oop slam.

Trey Wood ⬆️ Aziz ⬇️#UVUhoops #UVUatCU #NITMBB #NIT2023 pic.twitter.com/qIiY2SjcJM

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) March 20, 2023

Harmon gave UVU a double-digit lead with a euro-step layup on a fastbreak.

Justin Harmon with the EURO!!#UVUhoops #UVUatCU #NITMBB #NIT2023 pic.twitter.com/tMGHU1ygpm

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) March 20, 2023

After trading possessions to the free throw line, Utah Valley drained the clock to secure the win.

Trey Woodbury led the way for the Wolverines with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists on 11/15 shooting.

Utah Valley pulls out a 12-point win, 81-69.

Final in Boulder!#UVUhoops #UVUatCU #NITMBB #NIT2023 pic.twitter.com/uTosuMGrDw

— UVU Men’s Basketball (@UVUmbb) March 20, 2023

Chandler Holt is a Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com, specializing in all things basketball and football. Follow Chandler on Twitter at @ChandlerHoltKSL.

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