PHOENIX, Ariz. – Utah Valley dropped their conference opener, 71-60, on the road against Grand Canyon. The loss snaps the Wolverines five-game winning streak and drops their season record to 11-5 on the year. Grand Canyon improved to 8-6 on the season.  
 
The Wolverines took a 9-8 lead with 16:17 to go in the first half before the Lopes used a 9-0 run to take the lead. UVU answered with a 7-0 run of their own to trim the lead to 17-16 with 10:05 but were never able to regain the lead again. Grand Canyon responded by outscoring Utah Valley 20-10, including the final five points of the half to take a 37-26 lead into intermission.
 
The Wolverines opened the second half with a 14-5 run to cut the lead down to two with 14:10 to go in the game. GCU pushed the lead back out to seven before UVU cut the lead to 49-48. The Lopes then used a 10-2 run put the game out of reach with 4:40 to go and the Wolverines were unable to get closer than five points the rest of the game.
 
Utah Valley shot 21 of 56 from the field while connecting on all but one of their 16 free throws but were they were outrebounded 40-38 and their 16 turnovers proved costly. Ben Nakwaasah led the Wolverines with 15 points on 6-11 from the field. Baylee Steele was the other Wolverine in double figures, finishing with 12 points on a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe to go along with seven rebounds. Jake Toolson and Isaiah White led the team in rebounds, with both players finishing with eight rebounds apiece, UVU finished with a season-low three assists for the game.
 
The Wolverines continue WAC play, traveling to take on CSU Bakersfield on Jan. 5 at 8pm MT. Utah Valley than hosts Seattle U in their conference home opener on Jan. 12 in the UCCU Center.