Utah Valley (20-9, 9-4) vs. Seattle U (19-11, 8-5)
Saturday, March 3, 2018  |  7 p.m. MST
Orem, Utah  |  UCCU Center (7,500)
Complete Utah Valley Game Notes (PDF)

GAME INFORMATION
TV: WAC Digital Network / UVUtv (Brandon Crow/Holton Hunsaker)
Live Video: WACsports.com/watch
Radio: ESPN 960 AM (Jim McCulloch/Josh Kallunki)
Radio Webcast: espn960sports.com
Live Stats Link: UVU StatBroadcast
Tickets: UVU vs. Seattle U Tix
 

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OPENING TIP
Utah Valley had its three-game win streak snapped last week at Grand Canyon as the Wolverines dropped a one-point, 60-59, decision to the Antelopes at GCU Arena in Phoenix. Despite the setback, UVU continues to sit alone in second place in the WAC and would secure the No. 2 seed at the upcoming WAC Tournament in Las Vegas with a win over Seattle U on Saturday night at the UCCU Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

Saturday night's game against Seattle U at the UCCU Center will be the final home game of the season for the Wolverines. UVU's four seniors and two graduate students (Jerrelle DeBerry, Akolda Manyang, Isaac Neilson, Zach Nelson, Kenneth Ogbe, Brandon Randolph) will be honored in a presentation before the game.

Three different seeding scenarios for the WAC Tournament play out for UVU on Saturday night, depending on the outcome of UVU's game against Seattle U and CSU Bakersfield's game at Grand Canyon. The Wolverines will secure the No. 2 seed at the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas next week with a win over Seattle U on Saturday night. A loss to the Redhawks, coupled with a CSU Bakersfield win over Grand Canyon would give the Wolverines the No. 3 seed. A loss to Seattle U and a Grand Canyon victory over CSU Bakersfield would give UVU the No. 4 seed at the tournament.

Utah Valley earned its 20th win of the season with its 70-47 win at CSU Bakersfield on Feb. 22. The win marks the highest win total of head coach Mark Pope's tenure at Utah Valley, improving upon last season's win total of 17. It marks the fifth time in school history that a team has won 20 or more games. The last time UVU won 20 games was during the 2013-14 season when the Wolverines finished the season with a 20-12 record . The most wins in UVU's Division I era with a full Division I schedule came during the 2006-07 season when the team won 22 games.

Utah Valley is tied for the fifth-longest current home win streak in the nation at 12 games. South Dakota State holds the nation's longest current home win streak at 20 games, followed by the College of Charleston and Louisiana at 16 games in a row. Utah Valley holds a 14-1 record at the UCCU Center this season. The 14 wins matches the Utah Valley single-season record for home wins in a season with the 2006-07 team (14-1) and the 2011-12 team (14-2).With a win on Saturday night, the Wolverines would secure the best home record in team history.

Utah Valley has five players averaging double figures. Kenneth Ogbe leads the team in scoring at 13.4 points per game. Akolda Manyang ranks second on the team at 13.1 points per game. Conner Toolson is third at 12.4 points a contest. Jake Toolson averages 11.7 points, followed by Brandon Randolph at 11.1.

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 15 of 18 games since the loss at Duke.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday night's game against Seattle U will be broadcast live on the WAC Digital Network and UVUtv. Brandon Crow and former UVU star Holton Hunsaker will be on the call. 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 SEATTLE U
Seattle U enters Saturday night's game with a 19-11 overall record. The team is tied for third place in the WAC standings with an 8-5 mark. After winning three straight, Seattle U suffered back-to-back losses on the road last week to Grand Canyon and CSU Bakersfield. The two setbacks keep the Redhawks a game behind UVU for second place in the WAC standings. SU dropped a 76-64 decision at Grand Canyon before falling 64-57 at CSU Bakersfield last week. In the loss at Bakersfield last Saturday, sophomore guard Matej Kavas, junior center Aaron Menzies, and sophomore guard Morgan Means each recorded 13 points, while Jordan Hill scored 12. Menzies also had 10 rebounds for his 12th double-double of the season. Five players are averaging double figures for the Redhawks, including Kavas (15.7), Hill (13.4), Menzies (11.3), graduate guard/forward Josh Hearlihy (11.4), and graduate guard Richaud Gittens (10.1). Seattle U ranks second in the WAC behind Utah Valley in scoring offense at 76.5 points per game. The team is fifth in the WAC in scoring defense, allowing opponents 72.0 points per game. The Redhawks lead the league in free throw percentage (.747) and three-point field goals per game (9.2).

SERIES HISTORY VS. SEATTLE U
Utah Valley and Seattle U meet up on the basketball hardwood for the 17th time on Saturday night. The Redhawks hold an all-time 9-7 advantage in the series. Utah Valley had won two straight over Seattle U before taking a 55-54 loss in the Emerald City on Feb. 3. The two teams split the regular season two-game series last season with each team winning on its home floor. Utah Valley holds a 4-3 advantage over the Redhawks in games played in the UCCU Center.

Last Five Results vs. Seattle U (SU leads series, 9-7)
02/03/2018    Seattle U def. Utah Valley, 55-54    Seattle, Wash.
03/09/2017    Utah Valley def. Seattle U, 65-53    Las Vegas, Nevada
03/04/2017    Utah Valley def. Seattle U, 61-54    Orem, Utah
02/04/2017    Seattle U def. Utah Valley, 63-50    Seattle, Wash.
02/27/2016    Seattle U def. Utah Valley, 72-69    Seattle, Wash.