LAS VEGAS — Tanner Toolson's 18-point performance and Carter Welling's 17 points propelled Utah Valley to a 68-55 victory over No. 5 Seattle U in the WAC Tournament quarterfinals. This win advances the Wolverines to their first-ever championship game on Saturday night, where they'll vie for the WAC's automatic NCAA Tournament bid.

Utah Valley extended its winning streak to 10 games, improving to 25-7 on the season and marking victories in 20 of their last 21 contests. Toolson delivered a stellar shooting night, going 7-of-10 from the field, including a three-pointer, and was 3-of-4 at the line. He also tallied six rebounds, three steals, and an assist. Welling was equally impressive, hitting 4-of-7 shots, including two from beyond the arc, and tallying eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.

"Tonight, I think we just played as a team," Toolson said after the game. "We came out with the right mentality and played for each other, and that's been key to our success all season long."

Supporting efforts came from Trevan Leonhardt with eight points and Ethan Potter off the bench, contributing six points. Osiris Grady, Dominick Nelson, and Cory Wells each added four points. The Wolverines shot 48.9% from the field and 26.3% from long range, while converting 85% of their free throws.

Defensively, Utah Valley held Seattle U to just 36.4% shooting and dominated the rebounding battle, 38-26. The Wolverines outscored the Redhawks 34-30 in the paint. 

"Our defense was huge," said head coach Todd Phillips. "Points in the paint, obviously, were big for us, but just being on the glass and keeping them off the glass— they're such a good rebounding team," Phillips said. "We preach blockouts every day, and I'm really proud of the guys who stepped up tonight."

A critical moment came in the second half when UVU's defense locked down, extending the lead despite Seattle U's efforts to rally. "We got some big stretches where we had 'kills,' where we got three stops in a row, and that was huge for extending the lead," Phillips explained. "Late in the game, we got another 'kill,' which was huge for pushing the lead out."

The Wolverines will now face the winner of the No. 2 Grand Canyon vs. No. 3 California Baptist semifinal in the championship game, set for Saturday at 8:40 p.m. PT / 9:40 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2. A win on Saturday night would send the Wolverines to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, marking a historic moment in UVU basketball history.

Generous UVU donors have donated FREE tickets for UVU students, employees, and alumni for the WAC Championship game on Saturday, March 15 at 8:40 p.m. PT at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, NV. This is a fantastic opportunity to support our team and enjoy an exciting game, all thanks to our generous donors.

If you are a UVU student, employee, or alumni, fill out this FORM to claim your FREE tickets!

Tickets will be available for pickup at the ticket booth outside the main entrance of the Orleans Arena starting at 7:40 p.m. PT on Saturday, March 14 for the men's basketball game. Must show proof of UVU affiliation (UVU ID card, myUVUlogin, etc.) while supplies last.

How It Happened

First Half: Utah Valley quickly took a 5-0 lead before Seattle U responded with a 6-0 run to take a brief lead. Toolson ignited an 11-4 UVU run with a spectacular breakaway dunk, putting the Wolverines ahead 16-10. The Redhawks tied it at 20-all, but UVU closed the half on a 14-4 run to lead 34-24 at the break.

Second Half: Leonhardt opened with a three-pointer, extending the lead to 13. Despite Seattle U cutting the deficit to nine, UVU maintained control. Welling's efforts in the paint and from three-point land were pivotal in a 9-2 run that extended the lead to 58-45. "We got stops and then turned that into offense," Toolson said. "When we got those big stops, it gave us the energy to go down and finish on the offensive end." The Wolverines finished strong, securing a 68-55 victory with solid defense and effective offense in the closing minutes.

When asked about the team's resilience, Toolson added, "We've been down in a lot of games this year and we've always been able to bounce back. That's been key for us all season." Welling agreed, saying, "We've been preaching resilience all year. We're built to handle adversity, and that's exactly what we did tonight."

Team Identity: As the Wolverines advance to their first-ever WAC championship game, the moment wasn't lost on the players. "It's really special to be a part of this team," said Toolson. "We've all worked so hard to get here, and to be a part of something that's never been done before at Utah Valley is incredible."

"I've been watching Utah Valley since I was a little kid," said Toolson, whose brother Conner played for the Wolverines from 2016-2019. "We've all worked so hard for this moment, and now we have to take advantage of it."