Utah Valley (15-6, 4-1) vs. Grand Canyon (15-6, 4-1)
Saturday, January 27, 2018  |  3 p.m. MST
Orem, Utah   |   UCCU Center (7,500)
Complete Utah Valley Game Notes (PDF)

GAME INFORMATION
TV: ESPN3
Live Video: WatchESPN.com (Mychal Clanton/Sed Bonner)
Radio: ESPN 960 AM (Jim McCulloch/Holton Hunsaker)
Radio Webcast: espn960sports.com
Live Stats Link: UVU StatBroadcast
 

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OPENING TIP
Utah Valley had its eight-game win streak snapped last Saturday with an 86-59 setback on the road to New Mexico State. Utah Valley now looks to get back on track on Saturday as the team returns to the UCCU Center to host Grand Canyon. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. MT

Utah Valley fell behind early and could never catch up in an 86-59 loss to New Mexico State on Saturday afternoon in a game for the outright lead in the WAC standings at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M. Kenneth Ogbe paced Utah Valley with 13 points as he connected on 4-of-9 shots from the field, including a pair of threes. He also knocked down 3-of-3 shots at the free throw line. Jerrelle DeBerry was also in double figures with 12 points. The senior guard connected on 3-of-9 shots from the field, all from long range. He also hit 3-of-4 shots at the charity stripe. Jake Toolson and Conner Toolson each scored nine points, while Isaac Neilson helped with eight.

Utah Valley is tied for the 10th-longest current home win streak in the nation at nine games. The Wolverines are tied with five other schools with nine-game home win streaks. Cincinnati holds the nation's longest current home win streak at 36 games, followed by Purdue and Vermont at 19 games.

UVU has six of its players averaging double figures, including all five of its starters. Kenneth Ogbe leads the team in scoring at 13.9 points per game. Akolda Manyang ranks second on the team at 13.5 points per game. Conner Toolson is third at 12.1 points a contest. Jake Toolson averages 11.9 points, followed by Brandon Randolph at 11.2 and Jerrelle DeBerry off the bench at 10.8.

Utah Valley graduate forward Zach Nelson is closing in on the 1,000-point mark. Nelson currently has 948 points and is just 52 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 five 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), North Dakota (Big Sky Tournament), and New Mexico State (WAC Tournament). The Wolverines went 2-3 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 14 of 17 games since the loss at Duke.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday's game against Grand Canyon will be broadcast live on ESPN3. The game will be available online at WatchESPN.com. ESPN3 is also available on numerous media platforms. 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 GRAND CANYON
Grand Canyon enters Saturday's game with a 15-6 overall record and a 4-1 league mark. Since losing to New Mexico State, 70-59, on Jan. 11, Grand Canyon has won four straight and is tied with Utah Valley for the second spot in the league's standings. The Antelopes head into Saturday's matinee with UVU fresh off a 96-80 victory over William Jessup on Tuesday night. Freshman forward Alessandro Lever led the team with 25 points, while senior guard Josh Braun helped with 22. Oregon transfer Casey Benson recorded his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 assists. Braun leads the team in scoring at 14.4 points a game, followed by Casey at 9.5 points a contest. Lever ranks third on the team in scoring at 9.2 points per game. Senior forward Keonta Vernon leads the team on the boards, pulling down 7.5 rebounds a game.  As a team, Grand Canyon is averaging 75.19 points a game while limiting opponents to a 63.10 per game average. Grand Canyon was selected by both the coaches and the media to win the WAC this season in the preseason polls.

SERIES HISTORY VS. GRAND CANYON
Utah Valley and Grand Canyon meet up on the basketball hardwood for the 10th time on Saturday afternoon. The 'Lopes hold an all-time 6-3 advantage in the series. GCU has won six-straight games against the Wolverines, including a sweep in last year's WAC series. GCU holds an all-time 3-2 advantage over UVU in games played at the UCCU Center. Utah Valley's last win over the 'Lopes was a 79-68 victory on March 5, 2016 in Orem.

All-Time Results vs. Grand Canyon (GCU leads 6-3)
Feb. 18, 2017    Grand Canyon def. Utah Valley, 77-71    Orem, Utah
Jan. 07, 2017    Grand Canyon def. Utah Valley, 82-72    Phoenix, Arizona
Mar. 05, 2016    Grand Canyon def. Utah Valley, 86-79    Orem, Utah
Jan. 16, 2016    Grand Canyon def. Utah Valley, 99-88    Phoenix, Arizona
Feb. 14, 2015    Grand Canyon def. Utah Valley, 83-57    Phoenix, Arizona
Jan. 15, 2015    Grand Canyon def. Utah Valley, 83-74    Orem, Utah
Feb. 06, 2014    Utah Valley def. Grand Canyon, 79-68    Phoenix, Arizona
Jan. 11, 2014    Utah Valley def. Grand Canyon, 65-58    Orem, Utah
Feb. 15, 2005    Utah Valley def. Grand Canyon, 71-49    Orem, Utah

LAST TIME VS. GCU (2/23/17)
Ivory Young scored a season-high 18 points and Isaac Neilson added a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double to lead Utah Valley in a 77-71 setback to Grand Canyon on Feb. 23, 2017 at the UCCU Center.
 
The loss dropped the Wolverines to 11-15 overall and 3-8 in WAC play. Grand Canyon improved to 19-9 on the season and 8-3 in league play.

The first half produced six ties and seven lead changes as the two teams went back-and-forth. Neither team led by more than five points. Utah Valley held a 33-32 lead until GCU's Shaq Carr rebounded a Randolph miss and heaved it three quarters of the court as the buzzer sounded to give the 'Lopes a 35-33 lead at the break.
 
The Wolverines took a 43-42 lead just five minutes into the second half before going on a 9-4 run to extend the lead to a 52-46 advantage at the 11:33 mark. Trailing 61-55 with 8:20 to play, Grand Canyon went on a 9-2 run to take its first lead since the 19:37 mark, 64-63, with 5:47 remaining. The 'Lopes then outscored UVU 13-8 the rest of the way to secure the 77-71 victory.
 
Young scored his team-high 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field, including a 4-of-8 mark from beyond the arc. The senior guard also dished out three assists with two rebounds and a steal in 24 minutes of play.
 
Neilson's 10-point, 13-rebound effort marks his ninth double-double of the season. Neilson connected on 5-of-9 shots for his double-digit performance. The 13 rebounds marks his 13th double-digit rebounding effort of the season.
 
Brandon Randolph and Kenneth Ogbe were also in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Randolph also dished out three assists with a steal, while Ogbe pulled down a pair of boards with one assist and a steal. Andrew Bastien scored seven points and pulled down three rebounds.
 
As a team, Utah Valley connected on 44.6 percent (25-of-56), including a 33.3 percent (8-of-24) mark from long range. Grand Canyon hit 44.8 percent (30-of-67) shots from the field with a 46.7 percent (7-of-15) clip from three-point range.  GCU edged UVU 37-36 on the boards.
 
DeWayne Russell led Grand Canyon with 18 points. Joshua Bruan and Shaq Carr were also in double figures with 17 and 11 points, respectively.
 
UTAH VALLEY'S WIN STREAK SNAPPED WITH 86-59 LOSS TO NEW MEXICO STATE
Utah Valley fell behind early and could never catch up in an 86-59 loss to New Mexico State on Saturday afternoon in a game for the outright lead in the WAC standings at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M.
 
The loss brings Utah Valley's win streak to a end at eight games, which was the fourth-best current win streak in the country. UVU falls to 15-6 overall and 4-1 in WAC play. NM State improves to 17-3 overall and 5-0 in league play.
 
New Mexico State jumped out to a 11-point, 16-5, lead just five minutes into the game after back-to-back threes by Zach Lofton. The Aggies extended their lead to as many as 12 points, 27-15, with 7:23 remaining in the first half.
 
Kenneth Ogbe then led Utah Valley on an 14-7 run as the senior forward completed a three-point play in the paint before knocking down two shots from long range and a pair of free throws as he scored 11 points over a three and a half minute span to pull the Wolverines within five points, 34-29, with 2:52 remaining in the half. The Aggies responded with five straight points to take a 39-29 lead into the break.
 
NM State opened the second half on a 21-4 run that included five shots from beyond the arc to take a 27-point, 60-33, advantage with 13:31 to play. UVU could only get as close as 22 points as the Aggies hung on to their lead to secure the win.
 
Ogbe paced Utah Valley with 13 points as he connected on 4-of-9 shots from the field, including a pair of threes. He also knocked down 3-of-3 shots at the free throw line. Jerrelle DeBerry was also in double figures with 12 points. The senior guard connected on 3-of-9 shots from the field, all from long range. He also hit 3-of-4 shots at the charity stripe. Jake Toolson and Conner Toolson each scored nine points, while Isaac Neilson helped with eight.
 
New Mexico State shot an impressive 54.8 percent clip from the field, including a 53.6 percent mark from three-point range. The Aggies knocked down 15 shots from beyond the arc. UVU shot 37.3 percent from the field and 40 percent from long range with eight threes. NMSU out-rebounded UVU, 37-26.
 
Lofton led New Mexico State with a game-high 24 points to lead three other Aggies in double figures.

MANYANG JUST NINE BLOCKS AWAY FROM BREAKING UVU SINGLE SEASON BLOCKS RECORD
Utah Valley senior center Akolda Manyang is now just nine blocks away from breaking the all-time UVU single season record for blocks. He is currently tied for fourth on the single season blocks chart with 48 blocks. Ben Aird holds the all-time single season record for blocks at 56, which he set during the 2012-13 season.

UVU HOLDS SOME OF THE HIGHEST SINGLE SEASON MARKS IN PROGRAM HISTORY
Utah Valley is once again scoring more points than any team ever in program history. Pope's teams have broken the scoring record in each of his three seasons with the team. His 2015-16 team broke the scoring average record, averaging 76.0 points per game. His 2016-17 team then broke that record, averaging 76.9 points a contest. This year's team is now averaging a program-record 80.7 points per game. This year's team also holds the highest field goal percentage in team history at a 48.8 percent clip (595-of-1220). This year's squad is also averaging a program-best 17.3 assists per game and a school-record 4.3 blocks per game.

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. The team also holds its best record through 20 games in the season, breaking the previous record of a 14-6 mark during the 2006-07 season.

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 21-game start to a season (Since playing a full D-I schedule in 04-05)
1.    15-6    2017-18 season
2.    14-7    2006-07 season
3.    13-8    2013-14 season
4.    12-9    2008-09 season

UVU REGISTERS THIRD-LONGEST WIN STREAK IN PROGRAM HISTORY
With its loss to New Mexico State on Jan. 20, Utah Valley's win streak came to an end at eight games. The eight-game win streak is tied for the third-longest win streak in program history. The eight-game win streak was the fourth-longest current win streak at the time. The longest win streak in school history came during the 2011-12 season when the Wolverines won 13 straight games.

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
     8-game    2017-18 season
5.    6-game    2007-08 season
6.    5-game    2010-11 season

UVU'S NINE-GAME HOME WIN STREAK 10TH-LONGEST IN THE NATION
Utah Valley is tied for the 10th-longest current home win streak in the nation at nine games. The Wolverines are tied with five other schools with nine-game home win streaks. Cincinnati holds the nation's longest current home win streak at 36 games, followed by Purdue and Vermont at 19 games.

UVU CONTINUES TO RECEIVE VOTES IN MID-MAJOR POLL
Despite its loss at NM State on Saturday, Utah Valley received 30 votes in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll. The Wolverines now sit in the 33rd spot in the poll, down five spots from last week's spot. 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 (37) and sits in the 32nd spot. Seattle U is also receiving votes (15). Saint Mary's holds the top spot in the poll, followed by Gonzaga and New Mexico State.

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. Kenneth Ogbe leads the team in scoring at 13.9 points per game. Akolda Manyang ranks second on the team at 13.5 points per game. Conner Toolson is third at 12.1 points a contest. Jake Toolson averages 11.9 points, followed by Brandon Randolph at 11.2 and Jerrelle DeBerry at 10.8 off the bench. William and Mary also has each of its five starters averaging double digits.

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 120 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.