OREM, Utah—Conner Toolson recorded a 24-point, 11-rebound double-double and Isaac Neilson scored 16 points with 14 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season to lead Utah Valley in an 80-79 overtime loss to Utah State on Saturday evening at the UCCU Center.
 
The loss is the second straight for the Wolverines, who fall to 5-4 overall on the season. Utah State improves to 5-4 with the win.
 
Down by one point, 79-78, Utah State's Shane Rector knocked down a pair of free throws with 1.6 seconds left on the clock in overtime to help the Aggies secure an 80-79 win, as Utah Valley was unable to get a shot off as time expired.
 
"I'm really proud of our guys," said Utah Valley head coach Mark Pope. "We just made some poor decisions down the stretch, which is a 100 percent result of coaching, and so it was a really great effort, we just fell a little bit short. Utah State is a good team; they've had some hard losses away from home and playing some neutral games. So congratulations to them, they played really well. They got great performances from their key guys. It was a great game, fun game to be at. I know people in the gym enjoyed it, so it was a nice game to be at."
 
Toolson knocked down 8-of-15 shots from the field and hit 7-of-7 shots at the free throw line to score his game-high 24 points. The sophomore guard also pulled down a rebound and registered a steal to go along with his career-high 11 rebounds.
 
Neilson registers his fourth double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Neilson hit 5-of-6 shots from the field and went 6-for-8 at the charity stripe on the night. The junior forward also had a pair of blocks and an assist.
 
Jordan Poydras was also in double figures with 16 points, connecting on 5-of-13 shots from the field, including three shots from long range. Poydras also had one assists, one steal and a pair of rebounds. Brandon Randolph scored 10 points with six rebounds and a game-high six assists.
 
Utah State and Utah Valley each tallied 42 rebounds on the night. The Aggies shot 40.8 percent from the field compared to Utah Valley's 44.4 percent clip. Utah Valley, which averages 10.5 three-pointers per game, connected on only four shots from beyond the arc.
 
Utah Valley took a 69-66 lead with under two minutes to play in regulation before Utah State's Koby McEwen knocked down a three to tie the game, 69-69. UVU's Kenneth Ogbe was fouled and hit 1-of-2 free throws to give the Wolverines a 70-69 lead with 1:32 to play. USU's Rector dunked the ball with 1:03 remaining to give the Aggies a 71-70 advantage. USU then fouled Neilson who went to the line and connected on 1-of-2 shots to tie the game, 71-71, with 52 seconds to play. Neither team could connect on a shot down the stretch as the two times headed to overtime.
 
Koby McEwen led Utah State with 21 points. Rector and Jalen Moore were also in double figures with 18 and 15 points, respectively.
 
Utah Valley will continue play against in-state foes as the Wolverines travel to Ogden to take on Weber State on Saturday, Dec. 17. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. (MST).