Utah Valley (14-5, 3-0) at Texas Rio Grande Valley (10-9, 2-1)
Thursday, January 18, 2018  |  6 p.m. MST
Edinburg, Texas   |   UTRGV Fieldhouse (2,500)
Complete Utah Valley Game Notes (PDF)

GAME INFORMATION
Live Video: WAC Digital Network / Apple TV, Roku, Android TV, Amazon Fire
Radio: ESPN 960 AM (Jim McCulloch/Jason Erickson)
Radio Webcast: espn960sports.com
Live Stats Link: UVU StatBroadcast
 

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OPENING TIP
Utah Valley won its seventh straight game on Saturday night, defeating WAC foe Chicago State, 83-58, to improve to a perfect 3-0 in conference play. The Wolverines look to make it eight in a row on Thursday night as the team plays its first WAC road game of the season at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. (MST).

Akolda Manyang dropped in 22 points while Jake Toolson and Conner Toolson added 14 apiece to lead Utah Valley to its seventh-straight victory with an 83-58 win Chicago State on Saturday night at the UCCU Center.

Utah Valley is tied for the fifth-longest win streak in the nation at seven games. The Wolverines are tied with South Dakota State and Wichita State with seven-game win streaks. Auburn holds the nation's longest win streak at 14 games, followed by Purdue at 13 games and Saint Mary's at 12 games.

UVU has six of its players averaging double figures, including all five of its starters. Akolda Manyang leads the team in scoring at 14.1 points per game. Kenneth Ogbe ranks second on the team at 13.8 points per game off the bench. Jerrelle DeBerry is third at 12.5 points a contest. Jake Toolson averages 12.2 points, followed by Conner Toolson at 11.7 and Brandon Randolph at 11.5.

Utah Valley graduate forward Zach Nelson is closing in on the 1,000-point mark. Nelson currently has 946 points and is just 54 points shy of reaching the milestone. Nelson will become just the seventh player in UVU history to reach the mark. Nelson will become the first player in UVU history to score 1,000 points, pull down 500 or more rebounds and dish out 200 or more assists.
 
Utah Valley has played four teams that won their conference tournaments last season and made trips to the NCAA Tournament, including Kentucky (SEC Tournament), Duke (ACC Tournament), UC Davis (Big West Tournament), and North Dakota (Big Sky Tournament). The Wolverines went 2-2 with wins over UC Davis and North Dakota.

UVU opened the season with what might just be the toughest 24 hours ever played in college basketball history as the Wolverines took on No. 4/5 Kentucky and No. 1 Duke on back-to-back nights to open the season. The Wolverines dropped a 73-63 decision at Kentucky before falling 99-69 at Duke. UVU has since won eight of its last 11 games.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Thursday night's game against UTRGV will be broadcast live on the WAC Digital Network (WACsports.com/live). The game will also be available on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Roku. The game will also be available on the air waves at ESPN 960 AM radio with Jim McCulloch handling the play-by-play duties. A live audio stream of the radio broadcast will be available through ESPN960sports.com and also through the ESPN 960 app, which is available for both iPhone and Android.

ABOUT UTRGV
Texas Rio Grande Valley enters Thursday night's game with a 10-9 overall record and a 2-1 league mark. UTRGV holds a 5-3 record at home this season. The team heads into Thursday's game fresh off an 84-71 setback at Grand Canyon on Saturday night. The Vaqueros opened WAC play with three-straight road games, defeating UMKC and CSU Bakersfield before losing at GCU. The Vaqueros have won four of their last five games dating back to an 80-69 win over Hampton on Dec. 30. Preseason All-WAC first team selection Nick Dixon leads his team and the WAC in scoring this season at 20.8 points per game. The senior guard is shooting a 47.1 clip from the field, including a 39.8 percent mark from long range. Sophomore guard Xavier McDaniel Jr. is also averaging double figures at 10.8 points a contest. Junior forward Terry Winn averages 9.5 points a game and leads the Vaqueros on the glass, pulling down a team-best 5.8 rebounds a game. As a team, UTRGV averages 76.9 points per game while allowing opponents a 78.2 points per game average.

SERIES HISTORY VS. UTRGV
Utah Valley and UTRGV meet up on the basketball hardwood for the 25th time on Thursday night. UVU holds a 21-3 all-time advantage in the series dating back to 2005. UVU swept the WAC series last year, defeating UTRGV 92-81 in Orem and 88-68 in Texas. UVU has won 10 straight games over UTRGV. UVU's last loss to UTRGV was a 62-60 setback in Texas on Jan. 19, 2013. The Wolverines hold an all-time 9-2 record over the Vaqueros in games played in Texas.

Last Five Results vs. UTRGV (UVU leads 21-3)
Feb. 25, 2017    Utah Valley def. UTRGV, 88-68    Edinburg, Texas
Jan. 26, 2017    Utah Valley def. UTRGV, 92-81    Orem, Utah
Feb. 04, 2016    Utah Valley def. UTRGV, 88-77    Edinburg, Texas
Jan. 09, 2016    Utah Valley def. UTRGV, 98-65    Orem, Utah
Feb. 21, 2015    Utah Valley def. UTRGV, 72-49    Orem, Utah

LAST TIME VS. UTRGV (2/25/17)
Jordan Poydras scored 17 points and Zach Nelson added 14 to lead Utah Valley to a two-game road sweep with an 88-68 win over UT Rio Grande Valley on Feb. 25, 2017 at the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
 
Utah Valley improved to 13-15 overall and 5-8 in WAC play. UTRGV fell to 10-20 overall and 2-11 in league play.
 
The win marked the team's first-ever road sweep of New Mexico State and UTRGV since the Wolverines joined the WAC. UVU defeated NM State 84-72 on Thursday night. It marked the first time that any team in the WAC has swept the NM State/UTRGV road series.
 
Trailing 4-2 just over a minute into the game, Utah Valley went on a 21-4 run over a seven and a half minute span to take a 23-8 lead with 11:20 remaining in the half. UTRGV responded with an 11-2 run of its own to cut the UVU lead to six points, 25-19, with 7:26 let in the first period. UVU then out scored the Vaqueros 22-10 to take a 47-29 lead into the break.
 
Utah Valley extended its lead to as many as 27 points, 74-47, with 9:59 to play in the final period. UTRGV was not able to get any closer than 17 points as UVU was able to hold on to its first half lead to secure the 88-68 win.
 
Poydras scored his 17 points on a 5-of-10 clip from the field, including a 2-of-4 mark from long range. The senior guard also knocked down 5-of-6 free throws and dished out three assists with two rebounds.
 
Nelson registered his 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including a pair of threes. Nelson also hit 2-of-2 free throws. The junior forward pulled down a team-high seven rebounds with two assists and a block.
 
Ivory Young scored 13 points, while Conner Toolson and Kenneth Ogbe were also in double figures with 11 points apiece. Young pulled down five rebounds and dished out a team-high four assists. Toolson also pulled down five boards and tallied three assists with a steal.
As a team, Utah Valley shot an impressive 54.7 percent (29-of-53) from the field, including a 44.4 percent (8-of-18) mark from three-point range. The Wolverines held UTRGV to a 36.8 percent (25-of-68) clip from the floor, including a 28.0 percent (7-of-25) mark from three. UVU out-rebounded UTRGV 44-29 on the night and out-scored the Vaqueros 40-14 in the paint.

Antonio Green led UTRGV with a game-high 19 points while teammate Moe McDonald helped with 18.

UTAH VALLEY WINS SEVENTH IN A ROW WITH 83-58 WIN OVER CHICAGO STATE
Akolda Manyang dropped in 22 points while Jake Toolson and Conner Toolson added 14 apiece to lead Utah Valley to its seventh-straight victory with an 83-58 win Chicago State on Saturday night at the UCCU Center.
 
With the win, Utah Valley improves to 14-5 on the season and 3-0 in WAC play. The Wolverines shot a 55.8 percent clip from the field on the night while holding Chicago State to just a 36.5 percent performance. UVU also won the rebounding battle 40-32. UVU assisted on 24 of its 29 made field goals, and out-scored the Cougars in the paint, 42-28.
 
"I'm so proud of our guys,"said Utah Valley head coach Mark Pope. "This is seven games in a row now, we're 3-0 in conference and we took care of this home stand which is so important because we have to win these games. My guys, especially in the second half, came out like real pros. I love the fact that there's so many good signs for us right now. It was a good win for us because we all know what happened last year, and it was important we didn't let that happen again."
 
Manyang got out to a quick start with a layup, dunk and pair of free throws in the opening minutes of the game. Threes from both Conner Toolson and Jake Toolson aided the Wolverines in opening the game on a 15-4 run.  
 
Chicago State responded with a 16-4 stretch to take a one-point lead, but Jake Toolson knocked down his second three of the game to end the run and regain the advantage for UVU. With the score tied at 22-22, Utah Valley went on a quick 15-4 run behind a pair of layups from Manyang to grab and extend its lead.
 
The run closed out the half for the Wolverines as they took a 37-28 lead into the locker room. Manyang powered UVU in the first half with 16 points to go along with six rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Jake Toolson added 10 points on a 2-of-2 clip from downtown. He also contributed four rebounds, three assists and a block.
 
Jake Toolson and Conner Toolson again started the half with a pair of shots from long distance as Utah Valley opened the second half on a 14-4 run. Minutes later, Ben Nakwaasah came away with a loose ball on the defensive end and found Manyang all alone for an electric dunk. On the next possession, Nakwaasah again dished out an assist, this time to Kenneth Ogbe for a three.  
 
The teams traded baskets for the next few minutes before Ogbe threw down a highlight dunk of his own to push UVU's advantage to 20 points. The dunk sparked a 10-2 spurt for the Wolverines as they grew their lead to 26. From there, Utah Valley's defense took over to secure the win as the Cougars could get no closer than 20.
 
Manyang finished the game with 22 points on 6-of-10 shooting and a 10-of-13 clip from the charity stripe. Manyang also secured nine rebounds while dishing out two assists and blocking six shots. Jake Toolson earned 14 points on the night to go along with seven rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot. Conner Toolson also scored 14 points on a 6-of-7 mark from the field after a perfect-shooting night just one game earlier.
 
Nakwaasah helped with nine points in his first start in a UVU uniform. He also grabbed four rebounds while recorded six assists and three steals. Jerrelle DeBerry also scored nine points off the bench for the Wolverines, and Ogbe ended his night with seven points.

UVU RECORDS BEST NON-CONFERENCE RECORD IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Utah Valley secured its best non-conference record since the team entered the Great West Conference in 2008. The Wolverines played independently as a provision Division I member from 2003 to 2008 and were not affiliated with a conference. UVU opened the 2003-04 season with a 11-5 record through its first 16 games but 10 of the 11 wins were over non-Division I members.

Best Non-Conference records since joining WAC (2013-14 season)
1.    11-5    2017-18 season
2.    8-7    2016-17 season
3.    6-7    2013-14 season
4.    6-9    2015-16 season
5.    5-9    2014-15 season

Best 19-game start to a season (Since playing a full D-I schedule in 04-05)
1.    14-5    2017-18 season
2.    13-6    2006-07 season
3.    12-7    2013-14 season
4.    10-9    2008-09 season
    10-9    2010-11 season
6.    9-9    2016-17 season

STREAKING
With its win over Chicago State on Saturday night, Utah Valley has now won seven straight games, the longest win streak of the season. The seven-game win streak bests last year's longest win streak of five games. The longest win streak in school history came during the 2011-12 season when the Wolverines won 13 straight games. The current seven-game win streak is the fourth-longest win streak in program history.

Longest Win Streaks in UVU history (Since playing a full D-I schedule in 04-05)
1.    13-game    2011-12 season
2.    9-game    2006-07 season
3.    8-game    2013-14 season
4.    7-game    2017-18 season
5.    6-game    2007-08 season
6.    5-game    2010-11 season

UVU'S SEVEN-GAME WIN STREAK RANKS FIFTH-BEST IN NATION
Utah Valley's seven-game win streak is the fifth-best current win streak in the country. Auburn holds the best current streak in the nation at 14 games, followed by Purdue at 13 games, and Saint Mary's at 12 games. Four teams currently hold an eight-game win streak, while Utah Valley is tied with Wichita State, South Dakota State, Vermont, and Wright State with seven-game win streaks.

UVU GAINING VOTES IN COLLEGEINSIDER.COM MID-MAJOR POLL
Utah Valley has received a season-best 59 votes in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll. The Wolverines now sit in the 28th spot in the poll. WAC foe New Mexico State continues to hold the No. 3 spot in the latest poll. Grand Canyon is also receiving votes in the poll (44) and sits in the 30th spot. The Wolverines moved up 10 spots in this week's poll after sweeping a pair of WAC home games last week.

UVU ONE OF JUST TWO TEAMS IN THE COUNTRY TO HAVE ALL FIVE STARTERS AVERAGE DOUBLE DIGIT SCORING
Utah Valley is one of just two teams in the nation to have all five of its starters averaging double figure scoring this season. UVU actually has six of its players averaging double figures, including all five of its starters. Akolda Manyang leads the team in scoring at 14.1 points per game. Kenneth Ogbe ranks second on the team at 13.8 points per game. Jerrelle DeBerry is third at 13.6 points a contest off the bench. Jake Toolson averages 12.2 points, followed by Conner Toolson at 11.7 and Brandon Randolph at 11.5.

LOVING THE LONG BALL
Utah Valley drained 16 three-point field goals in its 90-82 win over UC Riverside on Dec. 28. The 16 threes ties the team for the second most in school history with the 2008-09 team which also knocked down 16 threes against NJIT on Feb. 28, 2009. UVU broke the three-point field goals made record in a win at BYU last season as the team knocked down 18 treys en route to its 114-101 win at the Marriott Center last season. UVU did connect on a school-record 13 threes in the first half of the win over UC Riverside on Dec. 28. The 13 threes are the most ever recorded in a single half by a UVU team.

THREE-POINT STREAKING
Utah Valley has now hit a three-point field goal in 118 straight games. The last time UVU played in a game without hitting a shot from beyond the arc was on Feb. 27, 2014 against New Mexico State.

HOME SWEET UCCU CENTER
Utah Valley holds an all-time 161-46 (77.7 percent) record in 12 seasons at the UCCU Center. The Wolverines are averaging 12.5 wins a season at the UCCU Center. UVU finished play at home last season with an 8-5 record. UVU is 11-1 at home this season. UVU's game against BYU on Nov. 29 was the team's first-ever sellout since joining the Division I ranks in 2003. 7,574 fans attended the game on Wednesday night, breaking the previous attendance record of 7,124 set against Utah State on Dec. 18, 2010.

ZACH NELSON CLOSING IN ON 1,000 POINT CLUB
Utah Valley graduate forward Zach Nelson is closing in on the 1,000-point mark. Nelson currently has 946 points and is just 54 points shy of reaching the milestone. Nelson will become just the seventh player in UVU history to reach the mark. Nelson will become the first player in UVU history to score 1,000 points, pull down 500 or more rebounds and dish out 200 or more assists as he currently has 552 rebounds and 234 assists. He will become the second player in UVU history to score 1,000 points and pull down 500 rebounds. Ben Aird is the only other player to score 1,000 points and pull down at least 500 rebounds as he scored 1,516 points and pulled down 1,012 rebounds.

UVU 1,000 Point Club
1.    2,163    Ryan Toolson (03-04, 06-09)
2.    1,545    Holton Hunsaker (2010-14)
3.    1,516    Ben Aird (2010-14)
4.    1,245    Ronnie Price (2003-05)
5.    1,078    David Heck (2003-07)
6.    1,066    Isiah Williams (2010-12)

NELSON CLIMBING UVU CAREER RECORD CHARTS
Zach Nelson currently ranks in the top-10 in 21 different all-time individual career statistical categories. He ranks second all-time in defensive rebounds (410), third in rebounds (552), third in games started (92), fourth in blocks (78), sixth in minutes played (2688), sixth in blocks per game (0.7), sixth in field goals made (364), sixth in offensive rebounds (142), seventh in field goals attempted (737), seventh in rebounding average (5.3), seventh in defensive rebound average (3.9), eighth points (946), eighth in three-point field goals attempted (260), eighth in games played (105), ninth in field goal percentage (.494), ninth in free throws attempted (215), ninth in assist average (2.2), 10th in fee throws made (143), 10th in offensive rebound average (2.2), 10th in free throws made (143), and 10th in offensive rebound average (1.4).