UTAH VALLEY HEADS TO ST. GEORGE FOR OLD HAMMER RIVALRY AGAINST UTAH TECH
Riding a three-game winning streak and sitting atop the WAC standings, Utah Valley now turns its attention to in-state rival Utah Tech in the Old Hammer Rivalry on Thursday at 7 p.m. MT at Burns Arena in St. George, Utah. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Rod Zundel and Mike Olson on the call and broadcast 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) with Jim McCulloch providing play-by-play.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Thursday's game at Utah Tech will be streamed live on ESPN+, with Rod Zundel and Mike Olson calling the action. The game will also be broadcast on the Wolverine Sports Network, with Jim McCulloch providing play-by-play coverage on ESPN 960 AM/103.9 FM in Utah County and 98.3 FM/101.5 HD2 in Salt Lake County. A live stream will be available at ESPNtheFan.com.

LAST TIME VS. THE TRAILBLAZERS: UTAH VALLEY 96, UTAH TECH 80 (1/18/25 – OREM, UT)
Utah Valley put together an explosive offensive performance in a 96-80 win over Utah Tech in the teams' first meeting this season. Tanner Toolson led UVU with 18 points, while Dominick Nelson added 15 points and five assists. The Wolverines shot 52.4% from the field and 41.2% from three, pulling away in the second half for a dominant rivalry win at the UCCU Center.

ABOUT UTAH TECH
Utah Tech enters Thursday's matchup with a 6-19 overall record and a 2-8 mark in WAC play, looking to snap an eight-game losing streak. The Trailblazers are coming off a narrow 86-83 loss at California Baptist but have been strong at home (5-4) this season, winning four of their last five at Burns Arena.

Noa Gonsalves leads Utah Tech with 14.1 points per game, shooting 46.0% from the field and 36.5% from three, while Beon Riley adds 13.8 points and a team-high 7.6 rebounds per contest. The Trailblazers rank third in the WAC in made three-pointers per game (7.3) and fourth in assists per game (13.0) but have struggled defensively, allowing 76.3 points per game.

SERIES HISTORY VS. UTAH TECH
Utah Valley and Utah Tech will meet for the 10th time as NCAA Division I programs, with the Wolverines holding a 6-3 all-time series lead. UVU won the first matchup this season in dominant fashion, earning a 96-80 victory on Jan. 18, 2025, in Orem. Last season, the teams split the series, with Utah Tech winning 65-53 in St. George before UVU responded with an 84-71 home win. The Wolverines boast a 5-1 record at the UCCU Center, with Utah Tech's lone win in Orem coming in a 93-89 overtime thriller on Feb. 13, 2021. The two programs share a deep history, having first competed in 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.

WOLVERINES CONTINUE WINNING WAYS WITH ROAD WIN AT SOUTHERN UTAH
Utah Valley (18-7, 10-1 WAC) secured its 13th win in the last 14 games with a 70-68 road victory over Southern Utah on Saturday night in Cedar City. Carter Welling and Tanner Toolson each scored 17 points to lead UVU, with Welling adding nine rebounds, three blocks, and three steals. Dominick Nelson and Kylin Green each scored 10 points, while Toolson sealed the win with two clutch free throws in the final seconds.

UVU shot 46.9% from the field, held SUU to 38% shooting, and dominated inside with a 36-28 advantage in points in the paint. The Wolverines built an 11-point lead late in the second half before holding off a late surge from the Thunderbirds.

UVU CLIMBING IN NCAA NET RANKINGS
Utah Valley continues to rise in the NCAA NET Rankings, currently sitting at No. 118 as of Feb. 19. The Wolverines have steadily climbed from over 140 earlier in the season and are closing in on the top 100. UVU has strengthened its ranking with key WAC road wins over California Baptist, Seattle U, and Southern Utah, as well as a dominant 96-80 home win over Utah Tech.

With a 10-1 conference record and a 7-6 road mark, Utah Valley has positioned itself well heading into the final stretch of the season. The Wolverines will look to further solidify their standing with another road win against the Trailblazers.

UTAH VALLEY FEATURED IN THE ATHLETIC
UVU's impressive season continues to gain national recognition, as the Wolverines were featured in The Athletic on Feb. 19 in an article highlighting mid-major teams that could be dangerous in March Madness.

The article emphasized Utah Valley's strong defensive identity, size across the roster, and ability to compete with high-major teams. It also noted the Wolverines' recent success under head coach Todd Phillips and UVU's coaching pipeline, with former coaches Mark Madsen and Mark Pope moving on to Power 5 programs.

With UVU sitting atop the WAC standings and climbing in the NCAA NET rankings, the recognition further cements the Wolverines as a team to watch down the stretch of the season.