OREM, Utah – UTSA took a 10-point lead in the second half after recovering from an early 16-point hole, but Utah Valley outscored the Roadrunners by 18 the rest of the way for an 88-80 win Saturday evening at the Wolverines' UCCU Center.
Utah Valley (5-3) closed the game on a 41-23 run over the final 12 minutes as the Roadrunners counted only six field goals. The Wolverines were led by Isaac Neilson and Conner Toolson with 19 points each. Jake Toolson (16), Kenneth Ogbe (13) and Brandon Randolph (11) also reached double figures.
Keaton Wallace led the UTSA (5-4) scoring efforts with 21 points on eight field goals, including three 3-pointers. Nick Allen and Deon Lyle both finished with 13 points.
UVU outshot the Roadrunners 44 percent (27 of 61) to 41 percent (29 of 70). The Wolverines also commanded the boards 55-29 with Akolda Manyang grabbing a game-high 14 and Neilson completing a double-double with 12.
UTSA scored eight points in the first 1:30 of the second half to trim its 10-point deficit to 42-40 as Wallace connected on a triple from the right corner. Four minutes later, Kendell Ramlal provided the Roadrunners their first lead at 49-47 with an inside score. A George Willborn III layup was followed by two 3-pointers from Lyle as the Birds opened a 10-point lead at 57-47 with 12:37 to play.
Utah Valley answered with a 12-10 run to tie the game at 59-all at the 8:09 mark. The Roadrunners endured a three-plus scoring drought during the Wolverines' run. UVU carried its momentum over the four minutes, outscoring UTSA 17-9 for a 76-68 advantage at the contest's final media timeout.
UTSA made a final push, cutting the UVU lead to 80-76 at the free-throw line after a technical foul with 1:11 to go. However, the Roadrunners would get no closer as the Wolverines sealed the game out at the line.
Utah Valley used an 11-2 through the early stages of the opening half to turn a one-point lead into 10 on Kenneth Ogbe dunk at the 9:21 mark. The Wolverines stretched their lead to as many as 16 before the Roadrunners trimmed it to eight at 38-30 with Deon Lyle capping an 8-0 run with a three from the right wing. UVU's Brandon Randolph pushed the lead back to 12, but Wallace scored the final bucket on the half with a knifing layup to draw the Birds within 10 at 42-32.
UTSA made just four of its first 14 attempts in the half as UVU built its lead. The Roadrunners made shots down the stretch to finish the opening stanza shooting 40 percent, while Utah Valley shot 47 percent and owned a 26-12 advantage on the boards.
Up next
UTSA plays its fourth game in a seven-day stretch on Monday, Dec. 4 as the Roadrunners travel to Oklahoma for a 7 p.m. tipoff against the Sooners. UTSA head coach Steve Henson served on OU's Lon Kruger's staff (2011-16) prior to taking over the Roadrunners.
Tweet #RunWithUs
