OREM—Evan Cole and Fardaws Aimaq each recorded double-doubles to lead the Utah Valley University men's basketball team to a 73-64 win over UT Rio Grande Valley on Saturday night at the UCCU Center.
 
Utah Valley improves to 10-9 overall and 8-3 in WAC play, while UTRGV falls to 9-6 overall and 2-2 in league play. The win also secures the Wolverines no less than the No. 2 seed at the upcoming WAC Tournament in Las Vegas. The top two seeds at the tournament earn first-round byes.
 
Leading 10-8 with 14:29 to go in the first half, Utah Valley's Tim Fuller knocked down a pair of free throws and then threw down a lob from Jaden McClanahan to spark a 10-2 run to give the Wolverines a double-digit lead, 20-10, midway through the first period. UTRGV got within three points, 30-27, with just under two minutes to go in the half before UVU's Colby Leifson knocked down a three to start an 8-0 run to close out the half to take a 38-27 lead into the break.
 
Holding onto its 10-point lead, 45-35, with 16 minutes to play, Utah Valley went on a 9-2 run with Aimaq scoring six points and Cole knocking down a three to give the Wolverines a 17-point 54-37 advantage with 12:48 remaining. The Vaqueros responded right back, knocking down three shots from long range as part of an 11-0 run to cut the UVU back to single digits, 54-48, with 9:36 to go. Overton then scored nine straight points as part of a 9-0 UVU run to go back up by 15 points, 61-48, with 7:47 to play. Utah Valley held the lead the rest of the way as the Wolverines secured the 73-64 win.
 
Aimaq recorded his 14th double-double of the season with 16 points and 16 rebounds. The redshirt sophomore connected on 7-of-17 shots and was a perfect 2-for-2 at the charity stripe.  Cole tallied his fourth double-double of the year with 14 points and 11 boards. The graduate forward made 5-of-11 shots from the field, including a 2-of-2 mark from long range. He also had one assist and a block in the win.
 
Overton was also in double figures with 14 points, connecting on 4-of-9 shots from the floor and 5-of-8 shots at the free throw line. He also had three rebounds, one block, and a steal. Jaden McClanahan dished out a team-high seven assists to go along with four points and two rebounds.
 
Le'Tre Darthard came off the bench to score nine points with four rebounds. Fuller and Trey Woodbury each had five points.
 
Utah Valley outrebounded UTRGV 48-29. The Wolverines forced the Vaqueros into 22 turnovers.
 
Utah Valley now travels to play Grand Canyon next week in Phoenix on March 5 and 6. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. MT for both games. The games will be broadcast live on the WAC Digital Network and on GCU's YouTube channel.