OREM--Fardaws Aimaq recorded his nation-leading 25th double-double of the season with 20 points and 16 rebounds to lead Utah Valley to a 63-54 win over California Baptist in the team's home finale on Saturday afternoon at the UCCU Center.
 
Utah Valley improves to 19-9 overall and 10-6 in WAC play. CBU falls to 15-14 overall and 5-11 in league play.
 
"Two good teams with a hard-fought game tonight," said Utah Valley head coach Mark Madsen. "California Baptist is so sound with their execution and their defense. That is a good team and that was a great battle today. I was proud of Trey Farrer. He came in and really stepped up. I was proud of all our guys out there today. I was happy for our outgoing seniors. It was a great way for them to go out."
 
 California Baptist took a 7-4 lead through the first four minutes of action before a Colby Leifson and Aimaq each knocked down threes, sparking an 14-2 UVU run over the next six minutes to give the Wolverines an 18-9 advantage with 8:20 minutes to play in the half. Utah Valley then outscored the Lancers 12-9 the rest of the way to take a 39-18 lead into the break.
 
The Lancers opened the second half on a 7-3 run to cut the UVU lead to eight points, 33-25, with 16:23 on the clock. Tim Fuller threw down a dunk on the next possession to start a 6-2 UVU run to give the Wolverines a double-digit lead, 39-27, with 12:27 to play. UVU held on to its 12-point lead, 46-34, at the next media timeout with 7:56 to go. CBU went on a 7-2 run to cut the UVU lead back to single digits, 51-44, with 4:29 remaining. Utah Valley knocked down its free throws down the stretch and outscored the Lancers 12-10 the rest of the way to secure the 63-54 win.
 
Aimaq scored his 20 points on 6 of 13 shooting, including a 1 of 2 mark from long range. He was a perfect 7 of 7 from the free throw line. Aimaq also had a pair of blocks in the win.
 
Trey Farrer came off the bench to score a career-high 13 points with a career-high seven rebounds. Tim Fuller scored nine points, while Justin Harmon helped with eight. Connor Harding dished out a team-high five assists to go along with five rebounds.
 
As a team, Utah Valley shot 39.1 percent (18-46) from the field, including a 22.2 percent (2-9) mark from beyond the arc. UVU held CBU to a 32.3 percent (20-62) clip from the floor and a 14.3 percent (4-24) clip from three-point range. UVU outrebounded the Lancers 45-30.
 
UVU's five outgoing graduating players were honored prior to the game, including Aimaq, Harding, Leifson, Asa McCord, and Brock Anderson.
 
Utah Valley now heads out on the road to wrap up WAC regular season play. The Wolverines will play at Grand Canyon on Thursday, March 3, before playing at New Mexico State on Saturday, March 5. UVU will then travel to Las Vegas for the 2022 WAC Basketball Tournament.