LARAMIE, Wyoming—Despite an impressive second half comeback to tie the game with two minute minutes to play, the Utah Valley University men's basketball team wrapped up its season with a 74-68 setback at Wyoming in the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational on Wednesday night at Arena-Auditorium.
 
The Wolverines wrap up the 2016-17 season with a 17-17 overall record after winning six of their last eight games. Wyoming advances to the CBI finals to take on Coastal Carolina in a three-game series beginning on March 27.
 
Isaac Neilson recorded his 10th double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds. The junior forward connected on 5-of-6 shots from the field with one shot from long range. He was also a perfect 4-for-4 at the free throw line.  
 
Conner Toolson also chipped in 15 point, all in the first half. The sophomore guard also pulled down seven rebounds. Brandon Randolph was also in double figures with 10 points to go along with seven rebounds and a game-high five assists. Jordan Poydras scored nine points, while Andrew Bastien and Zach Nelson each scored six.
 
Trailing by 10 points, 64-54, with 6:29 remaining in the game, Utah Valley used back-to-back-to-back threes by Kenneth Ogbe, Jordan Poydras and Isaac Neilson to spark a n 11-1 UVU run over a two-minute span to tie the game, 65-65, with 4:30 remaining in the game.  Utah Valley then took its first lead of the game on a pair of Neilson free throws to give the Wolverines a 67-66 lead with 3:20 to play. The two teams then played to a 68-68 tie with 2:23 to play. Wyoming then scored six unanswered points down the stretch to secure the 74-68 win.
 
Utah Valley shot 36.7 percent (22-of-60) from the floor, including a 27.3 percent (6-of-22) mark from long range. Wyoming connected on a 46.4 percent (26-of-56) clip from the field with a 20.0 percent (3-of-15) mark from beyond the arc.
 
The Wolverines out-rebounded Wyoming 42-32 on the night and the two teams each tallied 28 points in the paint.
 
Justin James led Wyoming with 16 points, while Jason McManamen and Louis Adams scored 12 points apiece.