OREM—Utah Valley continues nonconference play on Saturday night, traveling to face Fresno State at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. PT/8 p.m. MT on the Mountain West Network, with radio coverage on the Wolverine Sports Network/ESPN The Fan.
The Wolverines improved to 2–1 on the season with a 91–60 win over Westminster on Wednesday at the UCCU Center. Tyler Hendricks scored a career-high 22 points, while Jackson Holcombe and Trevan Leonhardt each recorded double-doubles to pace a UVU offense that shot 59.3 percent from the field, held the Griffins to 30.9 percent, and outscored them 48–16 in the paint. Hendricks went 7-for-10 from the floor and 4-for-6 from deep, Holcombe posted 16 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks, and Leonhardt finished with 11 points, a career-high 13 assists and seven rebounds.
Through three games, Hendricks and Holcombe have led the way offensively for Utah Valley, with Hendricks averaging 14.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game on 65.2 percent shooting from the field and 66.7 percent from three, and Holcombe pacing the Wolverines with 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per contest. Leonhardt continues to direct the attack at the point, averaging 11.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 8.7 assists, while forwards Isaac Davis (11.3 ppg) and Isaac Hawkins (8.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.0 bpg) add additional balance in the frontcourt.
Utah Valley enters the weekend ranking among the national statistical leaders through games of Nov. 13. The Wolverines sit ninth nationally in assists per game (23.0), eighth in blocks per game (7.7) and 17th in field goal percentage (54.9), while leading the WAC in all three categories. Leonhardt ranks third nationally in total assists (26) and fourth in assists per game (8.7), and Holcombe is tied for sixth nationally with two double-doubles through three contests.
Saturday's matchup marks just the second all-time meeting between Utah Valley and Fresno State. UVU won the lone previous contest, 64–60, on the road on Dec. 29, 2018. That win remains Utah Valley's only victory over a Mountain West Conference opponent, as the Wolverines are 1–14 all-time against the MWC.
Fresno State enters at 2–2 after a 78–73 loss to UC San Diego on Wednesday. The Bulldogs cut a 12-point halftime deficit to two midway through the second half and forced 18 turnovers, but UCSD's 12 made threes held off the late rally. Freshman forward Jac Mani led Fresno State with 21 points and seven rebounds, while senior guard Jake Heidbreder added 16 points and junior guard Zaon Collins posted nine points, eight assists, six rebounds and four steals. Heidbreder leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 17.8 points per game, with Collins (12.0 ppg, team-high 5.3 assists per game) and Mani (11.3 ppg) also in double figures. Seven-foot freshman Wilson Jacques leads Fresno State on the glass at 7.5 rebounds per game. The Bulldogs feature 11 newcomers and seven international players and are led by second-year head coach Vance Walberg.
Saturday's game will air on the Mountain West Network, which is available at TheMW.com/Watch. Radio coverage will be provided on ESPN 960 AM/103.9 FM in Utah County and 98.3 FM/105.1 HD2 in Salt Lake City, with Jim McCulloch on the call and Brice Larson hosting pregame, halftime and postgame coverage.
