LAS VEGAS—Fardaws Aimaq recorded his nation-leading 27th double-double of the season with 20 points and 11 rebounds to led Utah Valley in an 82-74 setback to No. 6 Abilene Christian in the second round of the WAC Tournament on Wednesday night at Orleans Arena.
 
Aimaq's double-double gives him 27 on the season, which ties the WAC record set by Pascal Siakam during the 2015-16 season. It is also the fifth-most in NCAA history, tying him with nine other players, including Siakam, Oscar Robertson, Lew Alcindor, Artis Gilmore, and Bill Walton.
 
With the loss, Utah Valley falls to 20-12 overall, while Abilene Christian improves to 21-9 overall and moves on to the quarterfinals of the WAC Tournament.
 
Utah Valley took an 8-5 lead just three minutes into the game and then scored six of the next eight points to take a seven-point 14-7 lead with 15:38 on the clock. A Jaden McClanahan three moved the UVU lead to eight points, 21-13, with 12 minutes to go in the half. Abilene Christian then responded with eight unanswered points to cut the Wolverine lead to just two points, 23-21, with 8:17 on the clock. McClanahan then knocked down back-to-back threes and Trey Woodbury hit a free throw as UVU scored the next seven points to get its lead up to nine points, 30-21, with 6:45 remaining in the first. ACU got back within three points, 34-31, with 3:49 to go in the half, but UVU outscored ACU 7-6 the rest of the way to take a 41-37 lead into the break.

The two teams played even through the first six minutes of the second half as UVU held on to a four-point lead, 54-50, with 14 minutes to play. The Wildcats then used a 7-2 run capped by a Tobias Cameron three to give ACU a 57-56 advantage with 11:34 to go. ACU went up three, 61-58, with 9:18 on the clock, but Le'Tre Darthard knocked down a three to tie it up, 61-61, with 8:26 to play. The Wildcats then knocked down two more threes before Darthard answered back again with another three to get UVU back to within one, 67-66, with six minutes left. The Wildcats then scored six straight points to go up seven points, 73-66, with 4:28 remaining. Connor Harding hit a shot from long range at the 3:53 mark to cut the lead back to four points, 73-69. ACU then held on to its lead and knocked down its free throws down the stretch to secure a 82-74 win.

Aimaq scored his 20 points on 8 of 11 shooting and a 4 of 5 mark from the free throw line. He also pulled down 11 rebounds to go along with one assist and a block.
 
Four other Wolverines were in double figures, including Darthard with 13 points, Harding with 12, McClanahan with 12, and Trey Woodbury with 10. Darthard also had three rebounds, three assists, and three blocks.
 
As a team, Utah Valley shot 52.2 percent (24-46) from the field, including a 42.3 percent (11-26) mark from long range. UVU also knocked down 15 of its 18 free throws for an 83.3 percent clip. UVU outrebounded the Wildcats 33-19.
 
Utah Valley did commit 21 turnovers that turned into 24 points for ACU, which proved to be the difference in the game.
 
Utah Valley now waits to see what postseason opportunities it will have.