OREM—Fardaws Aimaq scored 20 points and pulled down 15 rebounds to lead Utah Valley in an 81-71 setback to in-state rival Southern Utah on Wednesday night at the UCCU Center.
 
Utah Valley falls to 2-2 on the season, while Southern Utah improves to 4-1 overall.
 
Southern Utah jumped out to a 13-6 lead five minutes into the game, but UVU rallied with a 7-2 over the next 1:13 to cut the SUU lead to just two points, 15-13, with 13:22 to play in the first half. The Thunderbirds then used a 10-0 run to jump out to its biggest lead, 25-13, with 10 minutes to go. SUU built its lead to a 16-point advantage, 36-20, with five minute to go in the period, but UVU battle back with a 10-2 run of its own sparked by a Woodbury bucket and a Brinson three to cut the SUU lead to single digits, 38-30, with 2:39 remaining. SUU then scored the next four points before Woodbury knocked down a three with 11 seconds on the clock to cut the SUU lead to a 42-33 advantage at the half.
 
Utah Valley opened the second half outscoring the T-Birds 10-5 over the first two minutes of the half to cut the SUU lead to only four points, 47-43. Trailing by only three points, 53-50, with 14:45 to go, Brinson drove the basket and scored to get the Wolverines to within just one point, 53-52. SUU went back up by double digits after outscoring UVU 15-4 over a 6:36 stretch to take a 70-58 lead with 7:33 to play. The Thunderbirds held on to their lead to close out the game with the 81-71 win.
 
Aimaq scored his 20 points on 8 of 15 shooting from the field and a 4 of 7 mark at the free throw line. His 15 rebounds marks the third time this season that he has recorded 15 or more boards in a game. Aimaq also had a season-high four blocks.
 
Brinson made 7 of 12 shots from the floor and 3 of 5 from the free throw line for his 18 points. He also had five assists and four rebounds. Woodbury connected on 5 of 11 shots from the field, including a pair of shots from long range for his 15 points. He also pulled down six rebounds and dished out four assists.
 
As a team, UVU shot 44.1 percent from the field compared to SUU's 48.2 percent mark. The Wolverines were outrebounded 44-33 on the night. UVU, which ranks in the top-10 nationally in assists per game, dished out 20 assists as a team.
 
Utah Valley continues play at home on Saturday against Mountain West foe Wyoming. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the WAC Digital Network and UVU's YouTube channel. The game will also air live on ESPN 960 AM radio.