• Utah Valley wraps up non-conference play at home on Saturday afternoon against Bethesda. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. MT at the UCCU Center in Orem, Utah. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and over the airwaves on the Wolverine Sports Network (960 AM/103.9 FM in Utah County, 98.3 FM/101.5 HD2 in Salt Lake County).
   
• Utah Valley has won two straight road games over Big Sky opponents Idaho State and Weber State. The Wolverines defeated Idaho State 70-56 on Dec. 18, led by Carter Welling's career-high 23 points and nine rebounds, with a key 16-5 second-half run sealing the victory. Three days later, UVU edged Weber State 64-62, behind Welling's 22 points, six rebounds, and a career-high-tying five blocks, along with Jackson Holcombe's career-high 13 points and eight rebounds. A decisive 10-1 second-half run helped the Wolverines hold on as Weber State missed a contested three-pointer at the buzzer.
   
• Utah Valley sophomore forward Carter Welling was named the WAC Player and Newcomer of the Week after leading the Wolverines to road wins over Idaho State and Weber State. Welling averaged 22.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 blocks, and shot 68% from the field and 55.6% from three. He scored a career-high 23 points with nine rebounds and three blocks in the 70-56 win at Idaho State, followed by 22 points, six rebounds, and a career-high-tying five blocks in a 64-62 victory at Weber State. This marks his first WAC Player of the Week and second Newcomer of the Week honor this season.
   
• After opening the season with two games at home, Utah Valley spent over a month on the road with seven straight road games, culminating in a setback at James Madison on Dec. 7. The Wolverines have played 10 of their 14 non-conference games on the road, traveling a total of 15,180 miles during this stretch. Key stops included Murray, Kentucky; Birmingham, Alabama; Stanford, California; Harrisonburg, Virginia; Jacksonville, Alabama; Pocatello, Idaho; and Ogden, Utah.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday's game against Bethesda will be broadcast live on ESPN+, with Brandon Crow and Josh Kallunki on the call. The broadcast is available on the ESPN app and at ESPNplus.com. The game will also be broadcast over the air waves on the Wolverine Sports Network with Jim McCulloch and Brice Larson on the call. The radio broadcast will be aired live on ESPN 960 AM/103.9 FM in Utah County and 98.3 FM/105.1 (HD2) in Salt Lake City, with a live stream available at ESPN960sports.com. Larson will host the pregame, halftime, and postgame show for the game.

ABOUT BETHESDA
The Bethesda Lion Angels enter Saturday's matchup with an 0-10 record this season, all on the road. The Lion Angels have faced three NCAA Division I opponents, suffering a 122-53 loss to Cal State Bakersfield, a 107-54 defeat to Southern Utah, and a 90-54 setback against Utah Tech. Their most recent outing was an 83-60 loss to Hope International on Dec. 18. Despite their tough schedule, Taeo Thomas has been a standout, leading the team with 10.38 points per game, while Kameron Mayhan adds 8.89 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest. Bethesda has struggled defensively, allowing over 100 points in multiple games this season, particularly against Division I competition.

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE LION ANGELS
Utah Valley holds a 2-0 lead in the all-time series against Bethesda, with both matchups taking place in Orem. The Wolverines most recently defeated Bethesda, 107-65, on Dec. 17, 2021. Utah Valley's largest margin of victory in the series came on Dec. 14, 2017, with a 106-44 win. The Wolverines have scored over 100 points in both contests.

All-Time Results vs. Bethesda (UVU leads 2-0)
Dec. 17, 2021    Utah Valley def. Bethesda, 107-65        Orem, Utah|
Dec. 14, 2017    Utah Valley def. Bethesda, 106-44        Orem, Utah

LAST TIME VS. BETHESDA: Utah Valley 107, Bethesda 65 (12/17/21 - Orem)
Le'Tre Darthard scored a career-high 30 points and Fardaws Aimaq recorded a 20-point, 16-rebound double-double to lead Utah Valley to a 107-65 win over Bethesda on Dec. 17, 2021 at the UCCU Center. The 107 points are the most points ever scored by a team in the UCCU Center.

CARTER WELLING NAMED WAC PLAYER/NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK HONOR ON DEC. 23
Utah Valley sophomore forward Carter Welling earned WAC Player and Newcomer of the Week honors after leading the Wolverines to road victories over Idaho State and Weber State. Welling averaged 22.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 blocks, 1.0 steal, and 1.0 assist per game while shooting 68% from the field and 55.6% from three-point range. He recorded a career-high 23 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks in a 70-56 win at Idaho State on Dec. 18, then followed it up with 22 points, six rebounds, and a career-high-tying five blocks in a 64-62 victory at Weber State on Dec. 21. Welling also knocked down four three-pointers against Weber State, helping Utah Valley improve to 7-6 on the season. It is his first WAC Player of the Week honor and second Newcomer of the Week recognition.

ROAD WARRIORS
After opening the season with two home games, Utah Valley endured a grueling stretch of seven straight road games that concluded with a loss at James Madison on Dec. 7. Following a brief return home to defeat North Dakota, 80-57, on Dec. 11, the Wolverines wrapped up a three-game road stretch with wins at Idaho State and Weber State. UVU finished non-conference play with a 4-6 record on the road, including a 3-5 mark in true road games and a 1-1 record on a neutral floor. The Wolverines' 64-62 win at Weber State on Dec. 21 marked their final non-conference road game of the season, capping a challenging road slate. UVU played 10 of its 14 non-conference games away from home, covering an extensive 15,180 miles during this span, with notable stops in Murray, Kentucky; Birmingham, Alabama; Stanford, California; Harrisonburg, Virginia; Jacksonville, Alabama; Pocatello, Idaho; Ogden, Utah; and Washington, D.C.

BLOCK PARTY IN OREM
Utah Valley ranks 18th in the nation in blocks per game, averaging an impressive 5.5 swats per contest. Ten different Wolverines have recorded a block this season. Carter Welling leads the team with 26 blocks, followed by Cory Wells with 12. Welling's 2.17 blocks per game ranks him 21st nationally, and he is also 22nd in total blocks (26).