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OREM, Utah—The defending WAC champion Utah Valley University men's basketball team will open the 2014-15 season against South Dakota Friday evening at the UCCU Center. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m. MT.
 
South Dakota is a former Great West Conference rival of the Wolverines, who now plays in The Summit League. The Coyotes went 12-18 overall last season and placed fifth in the Summit with a 6-8 mark.
 
The Coyotes return five of their top six scorers from last season, led by Brandon Bos (11.9 ppg.). Bos was named to the Summit League preseason second team all-conference squad. South Dakota returns the league's highest percentage of assists and second-highest scoring percentage from last season.
 
First-year head coach Craig Smith, who previously served as an assistant coach at Nebraska, is just the third South Dakota head coach in 26 seasons, but the third coach in four seasons in the Summit League. Last season's 12 victories and fifth-place league finish were program highs since the Coyotes entered the Summit League.
 
"They are an experienced team with four returning starters," said Utah Valley head coach Dick Hunsaker. "They are a team that beat us last year at the end of a difficult road swing we had. Hopefully we can put last year's loss behind us. We're excited to get back out on the floor and get the season started."
 
Utah Valley returns six letterwinners, including a pair of returning starters in Zach Nelson and Mitch Bruneel. Other letterwinners returning from last year's WAC championship team include Brenden Evans, Chad Ross, Eli Robison and Cory Cardwell. The Wolverines welcome eight newcomers to the squad.
 
The Wolverines did play an exhibition contest this year, defeating Colorado Mesa 70-62 on Nov. 5. Newcomer Marcel Davis, a transfer from Utah State, scored 15 points with eight rebounds in the win. Nelson also scored 15 points, while Bruneel added 11 points with eight rebounds.
 
Following Friday's game against South Dakota, Utah Valley will head out on the road for seven straight games. The team will next return home for a Dec. 13 matchup with in-state rival Utah State.