BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Utah Valley lost an overtime thriller, 58-57, against CSU Bakersfield on Thursday night at the Icardo Center.

The Wolverines tied the game with 47 seconds to go before the Roadrunners hit the go-ahead free throw with 25 seconds remaining. Trey Woodbury's last-second shot rimmed out at the buzzer as UVU lost for the fourth time in five games. UVU drops to 8-13 on the season, including 2-4 in conference play. With the win, CSU Bakersfield improves to 10-10 on the year and 4-1 in WAC play.
 
The Roadrunners scored the game's first five points before Utah Valley used an 11-2 run to take 17-11 lead with 2:40 to go in the opening half. The Wolverines held CSU Bakersfield scoreless for eight minutes and under 30 percent for the first half. Brandon Averette hit a jumper to push the lead out to 19-13, but the Roadrunners scored the half's final four points to trim the lead down to 19-17 at the break.
 
After the CSU Bakersfield hit a layup to tie the game up, UVU used a 6-0 run to push the lead back out to 25-19 with 17:27 to go in the second half. The Wolverines then used a 7-0 spurt to take its largest lead of the game, 35-25, with 12:15 remaining. The Roadrunners responded with a 13-0 run over the next four minutes to take the lead at 38-35. Both teams exchanged runs before Casdon Jardine hit a pair of free throws to give the Wolverines a 48-46 lead with 2:05 left in the second half. CSU Bakersfield tied the game up at 49 apiece on a pair of free throws and Averette's three before the buzzer missed long to send the game to overtime.
 
The Roadrunners hit back-to-back threes to open the extra period to take its largest lead of the contest at 55-49 with 3:26 left in the game. TJ Washington scored five straight points, to cut the lead to one but were unable to retake the lead. Washington tied the game for the final time at 57 apiece with 47 seconds remaining.
 
After an Emmanuel Olojakpoke block, CSU Bakersfield got the offensive rebound and drew the Wolverine foul. After missing the first free throw, the Roadrunners hit the second shot to take the final lead of the game at 58-57 with 25 seconds left. Isaiah White's turnaround layup fell short and UVU was forced to foul. CSU Bakersfield then missed both free throws and Woodbury drove down and was unable to hit the deep three at the final buzzer and the Roadrunners escaped with the 58-57 win.
 
The Wolverines shot 35.9 percent from the floor for the game, holding the Roadrunners to just 32.4 percent from the field and a season-low 18.8 percent from beyond the arc. UVU turned the ball over 20 times and shot just 15-26 from the free throw line. CSU Bakersfield outrebounded the Wolverines 48-41, including a 17-9 edge on the offensive glass.
 
White led the Wolverines with 13 points and a career high 18 rebounds. White's 18 rebounds are tied for the second most in school history and the most since Baylee Steele recorded 19 rebounds against BYU back on Nov. 9, 2018. Washington added 13 points and Averette chipped in 10 points and a team high four assists. Olojakpoke swatted three more shots, bring his total to 59 on the year and moving into sole possession of second-most blocks in a single season behind Akolda Manyang's 72 in 2017-2018.

Utah Valley finishes its road trip in Phoenix, Ariz against Grand Canyon on Saturday, Jan. 25. Tip is set for 6:00 P.M. MT and will be broadcasted on the WAC Digital Network and ESPN960 AM. The Wolverines then return home to take on California Baptist on Wednesday, Jan. 29 in the UCCU Center.