SALT LAKE CITY—Isaac Neilson registered a career-high 28-point, 15-rebound double-double and Jordan Poydras scored 21 points in an 87-80 setback to in-state foe Utah on Tuesday night at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.
 
The Wolverines drop to 5-3 on the season with the loss and look to rebound on Saturday when the team hosts in-state rival Utah State. Utah improves to 6-1 on the year with the win.

"I'm really proud of our guys," said Utah Valley head coach Mark Pope. "We didn't play a great game but we competed like we've proven to do this season. As a coach, I've got to get better for my guys and as a staff, we've got to get better. There's a lot of stuff we left on the table that we could have done better. Utah's a great team and they proved it again tonight and we just need to get better. We've got to be a little tighter with our defensive game plan. We have to be a little more forceful with demanding the pace of the game that we want. Utah did a nice job tonight of slowing us down and keeping us on one side. Our goal is still four months from now and we're getting better every day and it's because our guys are competing every day in practice and they're trying so hard to do what we ask of them. It's just a learning process."
 
Trailing 75-73, Conner Toolson knocked down a shot from long range to give the Wolverines a 76-75 lead with 2:44 to play. Poydras then stole the ball and Brandon Randolph connected on the other end to give UVU a 78-75 advantage with two minutes to go. Utah's Tyler Rawson responded with a shot from long range to tie the game, 78-78. Poydras couldn't get a three to fall and Utah took advantage with a layup on the other end to put the Utes ahead, 80-78, with a minute to go. A Utah three-pointer gave the Utes a five-point edge, forcing UVU to foul and send Utah to the free throw line. Utah then went 4-for-4 at the line over the final 20 seconds to help secure the win.
 
Neilson connected on 13-of-20 shots from the field and went 2-for-5 at the free throw line for his game-high 28 points. He also pulled down a career-high 15 boards for his third double-double of the season.
 
Poydras scored his 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field, which included a 4-of-7 clip from long range. The senior guard also dished out four assists on the night. Randolph was also in double figures with 14 points, knocking down 6-of-13 shots on the night. He also tallied a game-high seven assists and pulled down three rebounds.
 
Jojo Zamora led four other Utes in double figures with 17 points. Kyle Kuzma helped with 16 points while Rawson and Lorenzo Bonam each added 14.
 
Utah Valley continues in-state play against Utah State on Saturday at the UCCU Center. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. (MST).