Jan. 5, 2008

Box Score

TROY, Ala. - Troy University jumped out to a big first-half and withstood a number of Utah Valley runs to beat the Wolverines, 80-67. UV out-scored Troy 42-35 in the second half.

For the second straight game, Utah Valley broke to school record for three-pointers as the Wolverines made 14 from beyond the arc.

Ryan Toolson led all UV (6-10) scorers with 21 points in the game. Richard Troyer added 17 for the Wolverines. O'Darien Bassett led the Trojans (8-6) with 19 points.

"We got in a deep hole early," Utah Valley head coach Dick Hunsaker said. "I thought Troy played a great game and out-energized us early. By the time we matched their energy we were too far behind."

After Utah Valley scored the first basket to open the game, Troy went on a 13-2 run over the first five minutes of the game to jump to a 13-4 advantage out of the gate. UV responded with straight including a three-pointer from Toolson.

Behind red-hot three-point shooting, the Trojans went on another big run to extend their lead. Troy used a 10-3 run capped by a Bassett three-pointer to take a 23-11 lead with 11 minutes left in the period.

After falling behind 44-17, the Wolverines closed the half on an 8-1 run over the final 2:12 to cut the Troy lead to 20 at the break. UV got a pair of threes from Richard Troyer and Jabir Jinna during the run.

In the second half, the Wolverines came out on an 8-2 run, cutting Troy's lead to 14. The Trojans responded with back-to-back three-pointers to take a 55-35 advantage with 15 minutes remaining in the game.

Utah Valley had several runs throughout the second half to cut into Troy's lead but the Trojans always answered with their own runs to maintain the large lead.

Utah Valley will now travel to Beaumont, Texas to take on Lamar University Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. (MT)