Utah Valley vs. Bakersfield
Thursday, March 12, 2015, 3:00 p.m. MT
Orleans Arena  |  Las Vegas, Nevada

Live Video: WAC Digital Network (Mychal Clanton / Steven Hunter / Evyn Murray)
Radio/Live Audio: ESPN 960 AM / WolverineGreen.com (Jim McCulloch / Matt Peterson)

WAC Tournament Central  |  Live Video  |  Live Audio  |  Live Stats

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OREM—The Utah Valley University men's basketball team will take on Bakersfield Thursday in the quarterfinals of the WAC Tournament at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. MT.
 
The fifth-seeded Wolverines will play No. 4 Bakersfield in back-to-back games as the team defeated the Roadrunners, 74-69, on Saturday at the UCCU Center. Bakersfield enters Thursday's contest against Utah Valley with a 13-18 overall record. The team went 7-7 in Western Athletic Conference play this season and earned the No. 4 seed at this week's WAC Tournament. The 'Runners had won three straight games before dropping its last two contests, a 53-43 setback at Seattle U and a 74-69 loss to Utah Valley in Orem.
 
Aly Ahmed, who was named to the All-WAC's first team, leads Bakersfield in scoring at 13.8 points per game. The junior center also pulls down 7.2 boards per game and averages a 49.8 percent clip from the field. He leads the 'Runners in blocks with 21 this season. Junior forward Kevin Mays leads the team in rebounding at 8.0 rebounds a contest. He nearly averages double figures in scoring at 9.5 points a game. As a team, CSUB is averaging 64.3 points a game while limiting opponents to a 62.3 scoring average. The team averages 5.3 more rebounds than its opponents this season.
 
"We're all excited about the WAC Tournament," said Utah Valley head coach Dick Hunsaker. "Las Vegas provides a terrific atmosphere and enthusiasm for our boosters and fans. We certainly know Bakersfield well, and they know us well."
 
Utah Valley enters Thursday's game with an 11-18 overall record. The Wolverines finished WAC play with a 5-9 mark. Thursday's game against Bakersfield will mark UVU's first neutral site game of the year.
 
Utah Valley wrapped up regular season play with the win over Bakersfield Saturday night. Sophomore forward Zach Nelson scored a career-high 29 points with seven three-point field goals in the Senior Night victory.
 
Utah Valley plays CSU Bakersfield for the 13th time. Each team has won six contests in the all-time series. Utah Valley swept CSUB in the first-ever WAC series last year with the Wolverines winning 82-74 in Bakersfield and 64-55 at home. This season, the Roadrunners defeated UVU 72-69 on Feb. 5 in Bakersfield, while the Wolverines downed CSUB 74-69 in Orem last week.
 
Mitch Bruneel leads the team in scoring at 11.9 points per contest. He also fronts the team in rebounding at 6.2 boards a game. Zach Nelson and Donte Williams also average double figures at 11.0 and 10.4 points per game, respectively.
 
Thursday's game will tip-off at 3 p.m. MT and will be broadcast live on the WAC Digital Network (WACsports.com/Watch). A live radio broadcast will also be available on ESPN 960 AM.