OREM—Fardaws Aimaq scored 13 points with 14 rebounds and a career-high six assists, while Le'Tre Darthard and Tim Fuller each added 13 points to lead Utah Valley to a 66-56 win over UT Rio Grande Valley on Thursday night at the UCCU Center.
 
Utah Valley improves to 12-6 overall and 3-3 in WAC play, while UTRGV falls to 6-12 overall and 1-5 in league play.
 
"I was proud of a lot of guys on our team," said Utah Valley head coach Mark Madsen. "I thought Jaden came in and gave us a huge boost off the bench. Jaden is a guy that just consistently works on his craft every day and made some big threes for us, helped control tempo, and did a nice job defensively. Obviously, Fardaws with the six assists, Fuller with a good game, and Le'Tre knocking down some big shots. There were a lot of great individual performances tonight."
 
UTRGV's Xavier Johnson knocked down three shots from long range over the first five minutes of the game to help the Vaqueros jump out to a 13-2 lead. The Wolverines responded by scoring seven of the next 10 points to cut the UTRGV lead to seven points, 16-9, with 11 minutes remaining in the half. Trailing 22-17 with seven minutes to play in the half, UVU used a 12-5 run culminating in a Connor Harding three, giving the Wolverines their first lead of the game, 29-27, with a minute on the clock. UTRGV's Mike Adewunmi knocked down a step back three with 22 seconds to give UTRGV a 30-29 lead at the break.
 
Tim Fuller scored the first two points of the second half to spark an 11-2 UVU run to give the Wolverines a 40-32 lead four minutes into the half. Leading 41-36, the Wolverines went to the line three straight times and knocked down five of the six free throws to up its lead to 10 points, 46-36, with 12:43 remaining. UVU held on to the lead 52-42 with eight minutes to play and then played even the rest of the way to secure the 66-56 win.
 
Aimaq scored his 13 points on 4 of 12 shooting from the field and a 5 of 8 clip from the free throw line. He also set a career high with six assists. Darthard scored his 13 points on a 4 of 8 clip from the field, including a 1 of 2 mark from long range. Fuller scored his 13 on 6 of 11 shots from the field. Fuller was just one rebound shy of a double-double with nine and had two blocks.  
 
Harding was also in double figures with 12 points, connecting on 4 of 12 shots from the field, including a pair of threes. Harding also pulled down five rebounds and had a pair of blocks. Jaden McClanahan had nine points with a career-high five steals.
 
Utah Valley continues WAC play at home against Lamar on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and ESPN 960 AM radio.