ABILENE, Texas—Tyler Hendricks scored 15 points and Jackson Holcombe added 12 as Utah Valley saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end with an 85-68 loss at Abilene Christian on Saturday afternoon at Moody Coliseum.
Utah Valley drops to 12-4 overall and 2-1 in WAC play, while Abilene Christian improves to 9-6 overall and 1-1 in league action.
After trailing 4-3 early, Hendricks scored on a drive and Noah Taitz capped a 7-0 Utah Valley run with a three-pointer to give the Wolverines a 10-4 lead five minutes into the game. UVU continued to lead 15-9 at the 13:17 mark, but a 7-1 Abilene Christian run tied the game at 16-16 with 11:45 remaining in the half.
The score remained tied at 22-22 before the Wildcats used a 6-1 spurt over the next 2:35 to take a 28-23 lead with seven minutes to play. Abilene Christian held a five-point advantage, 35-30, with three minutes left and carried a 41-36 lead into halftime.
Abilene Christian maintained its five-point cushion early in the second half, leading 49-44 at the 15:20 mark. A Hayden Welling dunk trimmed the deficit to four, 53-49, with 12 minutes remaining, but the Wildcats answered with an 11-2 run over the next 3:10 to push the lead to 64-51 with 8:51 to play.
The two teams traded three-pointers over the next several minutes, but Abilene Christian continued to build its lead, extending it to 78-59 following an 8-2 run with 2:56 remaining. Utah Valley outscored the Wildcats 9-7 down the stretch, but ACU closed out the 85-68 win.
Hendricks finished 6-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-6 from three-point range, and added five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Holcombe connected on 4-of-8 shots and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line, while also recording six assists, three rebounds, and two steals.
Taitz scored nine points, all from beyond the arc, while Welling added eight points. Trevan Leonhardt and Isaac Davis chipped in seven points apiece.
Utah Valley shot 51.1 percent (24-of-47) from the field and 42.1 percent (8-of-19) from three-point range. Abilene Christian shot 54.0 percent (34-of-63) overall and 38.5 percent (5-of-13) from deep.
The Wolverines held a 29-27 rebounding edge, but the Wildcats outscored UVU 46-32 in the paint. Utah Valley committed 22 turnovers, which Abilene Christian converted into 21 points.
Utah Valley returns to Orem to begin a three-game homestand at the UCCU Center, hosting Southern Utah on Thursday, Jan. 8. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
