• Utah Valley returns home to continue WAC play on Saturday afternoon against in-state foe Utah Tech. 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 and ESPN The Fan (960 AM/103.9 FM in Utah County, 98.3 FM/101.5 HD2 in Salt Lake County).
   
• Utah Valley earned a thrilling 85-83 overtime win at UT Arlington on Thursday, with Dallas, Texas, native Kylin Green setting up Jackson Holcombe's game-winning layup with 0.3 seconds left. Dominick Nelson led UVU with a career-high 25 points, while Tanner Toolson added 22 as the Wolverines extended their win streak to seven and stayed perfect in WAC play at 4-0.
   
• Utah Valley is riding a seven-game win streak, including a perfect 4-0 start in WAC play with victories over Abilene Christian, Grand Canyon, California Baptist, and UT Arlington. The Wolverines remain unbeaten at home this season with a 7-0 record at the UCCU Center. UVU's current streak ranks as the eighth-longest overall win streak in the country.
   
• Utah Valley holds an impressive 86-20 (81.1%) home record since March 4, 2017, and an all-time 237-66 (78.2%) mark at the UCCU Center as it competes in its 22nd season at the venue. The Wolverines are a perfect 7-0 at home this season and have won 33 of their last 37 games on their home court. UVU's 14 home wins in 2022-23 tied the program record, and the team boasts the 54th-best home court advantage in the nation, according to KenPom.com.
   
• Utah Valley wrapped up non-conference play with three straight wins, including a record-setting 119-59 victory over Bethesda on Dec. 28 at the UCCU Center, where the Wolverines set program marks for points (119) and made field goals (49). UVU also earned road wins over Idaho State and Weber State, led by standout performances from Carter Welling. The Wolverines navigated a demanding non-conference schedule, playing 10 of 14 games on the road and traveling over 15,000 miles.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday's game against Utah Tech will be broadcast live on ESPN+, with Brandon Crow and Josh Kallunki the call with Mike Goodkind on the sideline. 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 radio show for the game.

ABOUT UTAH TECH
Utah Tech enters Saturday's game against Utah Valley with a 6-12 overall record and a 2-1 mark in WAC play following an 82-62 loss at Seattle U on Thursday night. The Trailblazers are led by senior guard Noa Gonsalves, who averages 14.1 points per game and ranks second in the WAC in three-point percentage (38.8%). Beon Riley contributes 14.5 points and a team-best 8.1 rebounds per game, while Samuel Ariyibi adds 7.9 points and 5.5 boards. Utah Tech averages 70.1 points per game but has struggled defensively, allowing 75.0 points per contest. The Trailblazers rank ninth in the WAC in field goal percentage (41.5%) and rebound margin (-3.4) but lead the league in three-point percentage defense (30.6%). Utah Tech is seeking its first road win of the season, entering the game 0-9 in away contests.

OLD HAMMER RIVALRY
The Old Hammer rivalry between Utah Valley and Utah Tech dates back to their days as junior college powerhouses competing in the Scenic West Athletic Conference (SWAC). For nearly 50 years, the two schools battled annually for the Region 18 title until UVU made the jump to NCAA Division I in 2003. In 2021, the rivalry was officially reignited and named the "Old Hammer Rivalry" to honor the shared history of the programs and their evolution from junior colleges to Division I schools.

The rivalry incorporates elements of both the past and the present, celebrating the schools' shared roots in technical education and their commitment to athletic excellence. The competition spans multiple sports. The hammer symbolizes the rich tradition and hard work that have defined the rivalry for decades.

SERIES HISTORY VS. THE TRAILBLAZERS
Utah Valley and Utah Tech will meet for the ninth time as NCAA Division I programs. Utah Valley holds a 5-3 all-time series lead, including a dominant 84-71 victory in the last meeting on Jan. 20, 2024 at the UCCU Center. Utah Valley also split last season's series, dropping a 65-53 decision in St. George before securing the 84-71 win at the UCCU Center. The Wolverines boast a 4-1 all-time record against the Trailblazers in Orem, with Utah Tech's lone win at the UCCU Center coming in a 93-89 overtime thriller on Feb. 13, 2021. These two programs share a deep history, having first played during the 1972-73 season and meeting regularly in the Scenic West Athletic Conference/NJCAA Region 18 until Utah Valley transitioned to NCAA Division I in 2003-04.

LAST TIME VS. UTU: Utah Valley 84, Utah Tech 71 (1/20/24 - Orem)
Tanner Toolson scored a career-high 26 points and Drake Allen added 16 to lead Utah Valley to an 84-71 win over in-state WAC foe Utah Tech in the Old Hammer Rivalry on Jan. 20, 2024 at the UCCU Center.