SEATTLE, Wash. – The Wolverines were unable to overcome a late cold spell as Utah Valley dropped a heartbreaker, 71-65, on the road at Seattle U. UVU falls to 11-5 on the season, including 2-2 in WAC play. The Redhawks improve to 11-4 on the year and 2-0 in the conference play.
 
Le'Tre Darthard and Tim Ceaser got the Wolverines going as UVU took an 8-4 lead with 15:08 to go in the first half. Following a 6-0 run by SU, Connor Harding completed a three-point play and Asa McCord hit a corner three to put the Wolverines back up, 14-12, with 10:49 to in the half. After both teams went back and forth, Jaden McClanahan led UVU on a 9-2 run to end the half, giving Utah Valley a 32-23 advantage going into the break.   
 
Seattle U came out hot to start the second half, hitting its first three triples of the game during an 11-3 run to cut the lead down to 35-34 with 17:17 to go in the game. Blaze Nield found Fardaws Aimaq for an alley oop to stop the bleeding as both teams battled to a 44-42 Wolverine lead with 11:28 to go. Aimaq sparked a 10-2 surge by UVU, extending its lead to a game-high 10 points, 54-44 with under eight minutes remaining in the game.
 
The Redhawks ripped off a 13-4 run to tie the game up at 58-58 with 2:34 to go but Darthard hit a pair of free throws to put UVU back up 60-58. SU hit a free throw to cut the lead down to one before hitting a corner three to take the lead for good, 62-60 with 1:17 remaining. Utah Valley hit a free throw to trim the deficit to 62-61 but was unable to get any closer as Seattle U hit free throws down the stretch to take the win, 71-65.
 
Aimaq recorded his 14th double-double, finishing with 16 points to go along with 13 rebounds. Darthard added 15 points with six rebounds. Ceaser collected matched a career high with 13 rebounds to go along with six points and three assists. Harding chipped in 13 points while Nield and McClanahan each added three assists as every Wolverine that played scored at least two points.
 
The Wolverines shot 37 percent from the field, including 5-17 from deep, and 14-19 from the charity stripe. UVU limited UW to just 38 percent from the floor and 0-12 from downtown in the first half, but Seattle U hit 10 triples in the second half during its comeback. Utah Valley won the rebounding battle, 41-38, leading to a 16-8 advantage in second-chance points.
 
The Wolverines continue on the road, traveling to Riverside, Calif. to take on WAC-foe California Baptist on Saturday, Jan. 15, at 8:00 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+ and ESPN 960 AM. Utah Valley then returns home to host UT Rio Grande Valley on Thursday, Jan. 20 in the UCCU Center.