OREM—Brandon Averette matched a season high with 20 points to lead Utah Valley to a 72-58 win over CSU Bakersfield on Thursday night at the UCCU Center.
 
The win pushes UVU's record to 10-17 overall and 4-8 in WAC play. It also snaps a four-game losing streak for the Wolverines. CSU Bakersfield falls to 11-16 overall and 5-7 in league play.

"That loss last week at New Mexico State hurt us because the game was right there in our grasp," said Utah Valley head coach Mark Madsen. "You have to give our guys credit for bouncing back tonight. The key for us tonight was at the defensive end. Both Brandon (Averette) and TJ (Washington) were locked in defensively. I was proud of Emmanuel (Olojakpoke). To come out and set that single season blocks record is just amazing. That's all the guys were talking about in the locker room after the game. It's really a testament to his work ethic."
 
CSU Bakersfield jumped out to an 11-4 lead with UVU not connecting on a field goal through the first six minutes of the game. The Wolverines then heated up as Averette knocked down the first of three-straight shots from long range to spark a 13-0 run to give UVU a 17-11 lead with 10:23 remaining in the first half. The 'Runners fought back to tie the game 19-19 over the next three minutes. Leading by two points, 30-28, Utah Valley went on a 9-2 run capped off by a Jamison Overton dunk over the final three minutes of the half to take a 39-30 lead into the break.

WHAT A WIN!

UVU 72-58 CSUB 📊 Stat Leaders

AVERETTE | 20 PTS, 3 REB
OVERTON | 12 PTS, 2 REB, 4 AST
WHITE | 11 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST#GoUVU #UVUHoops #WACHoops #DenProtected pic.twitter.com/vhxuvmiqBg

— Utah Valley Wolverines (@GoUVU) February 21, 2020

 
Both teams played evenly through the first 10 minutes of the second half as UVU held on to a nine-point 52-43 lead with 10 minutes to play. Leading 57-48, the Wolverines used a 13-5 run to jump out to a 67-53 lead with 1:26 remaining. UVU then held on to its lead to take the 72-58 win.
 
Averette scored his 20 points on 7 of 10 shooting from the field, including an impressive 5 of 6 mark from long range. He also pulled down three rebounds in 33 minutes of action. Jamison Overton scored 12 points on a 6 of 10 mark from the field. He also pulled down two rebounds and dished out four assists. Isaiah White and TJ Washington also reached double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
 
Emmanuel Olojakpoke scored seven points with eight rebounds. He also had three blocks on the night to push his season blocks total to 72, which breaks the previous UVU single season record of 71 set by Akolda Manyang during the 2017-18 season.

With his third block on the night, Emmanuel Olojakpoke now holds the UVU single season block record!

He has 72 on the season!#UVU #GoUVU #UVUHoops pic.twitter.com/crYKiM23qI

— Utah Valley Wolverines (@GoUVU) February 21, 2020

 
Utah Valley will continue play at home on Saturday afternoon against Grand Canyon. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. Former UVU athletic director Mike Jacobsen will be inducted into the UVU Athletics Hall of Fame during the game.