OREM—Blaze Nield nearly recorded a triple-double with career highs of 27 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds to lead Utah Valley in an 80-76 setback to Abilene Christian in the team's Western Athletic Conference opener on Thursday night at the UCCU Center.
 
Utah Valley falls to 9-4 overall and 0-1 in league play, while Abilene Christian extends its win streak to 10 games and improves to 10-2 overall and 1-0 in WAC play.
 
Fardaws Aimaq recorded his 11th double-double of the season with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Le'Tre Darthard was also in double figures with 13 points.
 
After playing to a 5-5 tie three minutes into the game, Abilene Christian knocked down a pair of threes to spark a 10-4 run to jump out to a 15-9 lead with 13:18 to go in the first half. After UVU cut the lead to two points, 21-19, ACU went on a 10-2 run to up its lead to 10 points, 31-21, with five minutes remaining in the first half. The Wolverines outscored ACU 14-7 over the final five minutes, highlighted by a Blaze Nield half-court make at the halftime buzzer to cut the Wildcat lead to just three points at the half, 38-35.
 
Nield continued to knock down threes, connecting on three shots from long range over the first four minutes of the second half as UVU used a 9-3 run over a two-minute period to take its first lead since leading 3-2 to open the game, 49-48, with 15:09 to play. ACU took a 52-51 lead back with 11 minutes to play and then used a 7-2 run to extend the lead to six points, 59-53, with nine minutes to go. ACU's Airion Simmons hit a three to help extend the Wildcat lead to 10 points, 68-58, with 6:37 to play. ACU held on to the 10-point lead, 72-62 with 2:23 to go before Aimaq scored and was fouled and then connected on the free throw to cut the lead to seven points, 72-65, with 1:38 to play.
 
Aimaq knocked down a pair of free throws with 45 seconds to play to cut the ACU lead to just four points, 74-70. ACU then knocked down its free throws down the stretch to secure the 80-76 win.
 
Nield scored his career-high 27 points on 10 of 12 shooting, including a 7 of 9 mark from beyond the arc. He also dished out a career-high 11 assists—the fifth most ever recorded in a single game at UVU. Nield also had a career-high seven rebounds to go along with a pair of steals.
 
Aimaq scored his 21 points on 8 of 14 shooting. He also pulled down 10 rebounds for his nation-leading 11th double-double of the season. He also had three blocks on the night. Darthard scored 13 points on a 4 of 8 clip, all from beyond the arc.
 
As a team, Utah Valley shot 58 percent from the field and 52 percent from long range with 12 made threes. The Wolverines held ACU to 49 percent shooting from the field and a 40 percent mark from long range. UVU outrebounded ACU 30-26. ACU forced UVU into 17 turnovers which resulted in 17 points for the Wildcats. The Wildcats lead the nation in turnovers forced this season.

Utah Valley will continue WAC play at home on Saturday against Tarleton. Tipoff at the UCCU Center is set for 2 p.m.