Cancun, Mexico—Utah Valley travels to Mexico this week for its first-ever appearance in the Cancun Challenge, taking on South Dakota State on Tuesday and Samford on Wednesday at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. Both games are set for 4 p.m. MT and will be streamed live on FloCollege.
The Wolverines enter the tournament at 3–2 after a 79–72 win over preseason Big West favorite UC Irvine on Wednesday night at the UCCU Center. Utah Valley extended its home winning streak to 15 games, the fourth-longest active streak in the nation. Isaac Davis scored a career-high 18 points with five assists, four rebounds and two blocks, while Jackson Holcombe registered his third double-double of the season with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Trevan Leonhardt added a career-best 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Hayden Welling scored 14 points, including two key second-half threes.
Utah Valley ranks among the nation's statistical leaders through the first five games. The Wolverines stand eighth nationally in field goal percentage (.538), 11th in blocks per game (6.6), 15th in assists per game (20.6) and 20th in effective field goal percentage (.601). UVU also ranks inside the top 75 in scoring offense (87.4 ppg), steals per game (9.0), rebound margin (+8.8) and field goal percentage defense (38.9 percent). Individually, Leonhardt ranks ninth in assists per game (7.4) and 13th in total assists (37). Holcombe ranks 11th nationally with three double-doubles and averages 2.20 blocks and 2.40 steals per game, while Tyler Hendricks ranks fourth in the nation in three-point percentage at 61.9 percent.
South Dakota State enters Tuesday's matchup at 4–2 after a dominant 105–58 win over Georgia State on Friday. Five Jackrabbits scored in double figures, led by Matthew Mors with 18 points and Damon Wilkinson with 17. SDSU shot 61.7 percent from the field and had 28 assists, while finishing with a 43–22 rebounding advantage. The Jackrabbits rank 22nd nationally in rebound margin (+13.3) and 34th in scoring defense (63.3 ppg). Jaden Jackson leads SDSU at 13.5 points per game, with Joe Sayler and Wilkinson also averaging double figures.
Samford enters at 3–4 after an 81–72 loss at undefeated New Mexico State on Friday. The Bulldogs led early before the Aggies pulled away with 58 percent shooting and a 37–29 edge on the glass. Zion Wilburn scored 15 points and Kam Martin added a season-high 17. Samford is led by guard Jadin Booth, who averages 21.1 points per game while shooting 41.0 percent from three and 90.5 percent from the foul line. The Bulldogs rank 50th nationally in made threes per game (10.4) but allow 80.1 points per game and 49.3 percent shooting to opponents.
This week marks a milestone for Utah Valley as the Wolverines make their program debut in the Cancun Challenge. Both games will be carried on the Wolverine Sports Network/ESPN The Fan with Jim McCulloch on the call, with streaming available on FloSports at FloCollege.com.
