KANSAS CITY, MO – The University of Missouri Kansas City knocked down 46.4 percent of its threes and 51.9 percent of its overall field goals, and the Utah Valley University men's basketball team could not overcome that hot shooting mark as it fell 77-70 at historic Municipal Auditorium on Saturday night.  
 
With the setback, the Wolverines fall to 17-8 overall for the year and 6-3 in Western Athletic Conference play.

Despite the loss, UVU won the rebounding battle 32-29 and nearly doubled UMKC's points in the paint at 40-22. Utah Valley also scored 22 points off turnovers and outscored Kansas City's bench 29-17.
 
The game's first-four points went to UMKC, but Utah Valley answered with a 7-0 burst to establish itself in the game. Kansas City then pulled off a 7-0 run of its own before Akolda Manyang came off the bench to score 12-straight points for the Wolverines.
 
Both teams continued to stay hot from the field early in the first half, and UVU extended its lead to five off Manyang's scoring burst. The Kangaroos then pulled off a 13-4 run to erase the deficit and take a four-point lead of their own. Brandon Randolph proceeded to get his night going with a floater in the lane and lob to Manyang for a big dunk on back-to-back plays.
 
The score continued to stay close before UMKC scored the final ten points of the opening half to take a 40-31 advantage into the locker room break. Manyang's 14 points and six rebounds led UVU in both categories while Randolph and Jerrelle DeBerry led the Wolverines in assists with three apiece. Three different players for Utah Valley finished the half with four points.
 
UMKC opened the second half by pushing its lead to double digits. Utah Valley went on an 8-0 run to pull within four, but the Roos staved off the hot streak and pushed their lead back to 12. The margin continued to stay in double figures for the next several minutes.
 
The Wolverines continued to fight back and trimmed the deficit down to five but missed a series of layups and free throws as Kansas City grew its lead to 10. UVU got the lead down to six one final time but could get no closer as UMKC held on for the victory.
 
Manyang finished just one rebound shy of a double-double as he scored 22 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Jake Toolson dropped in 11 points to go with three rebounds while Conner Toolson scored 10. Kenneth Ogbe was the final Wolverine in double figures with 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Randolph dished out a game high nine assists to go along with six points while Zach Nelson scored four points and grabbed three rebounds.
 
Utah Valley now returns home for a showdown with WAC leader New Mexico State on Thursday, Feb. 15. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. and the game can be viewed on both UVU TV and the WAC Digital Network. Following the matchup with the Aggies, UVU will remain at home to welcome UTRGV to the UCCU Center on Saturday, Feb. 17.