OREM—Utah Valley will return to the UCCU Center on Thursday night to host California Baptist in a key Western Athletic Conference matchup. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. MT.
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and over the airwaves on ESPN The Fan (960 AM/103.9 FM/98.3 FM), with the pregame show beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Utah Valley enters the contest at 18-7 overall and 8-4 in WAC play. The Wolverines are a perfect 12-0 at home this season and have won 24 straight games at the UCCU Center, marking the fourth-longest active home winning streak in NCAA Division I.
The Wolverines most recently dropped an 81-77 decision at Utah Tech after nearly erasing a double-digit second-half deficit. Utah Valley has remained one of the most efficient teams in the country on both ends of the floor, ranking among the national leaders in assists per game, steals per game and field goal percentage.
Redshirt sophomore forward Jackson Holcombe leads Utah Valley in scoring (15.8 ppg) and rebounding (7.3 rpg). Holcombe, who has been named to the Lou Henson Award Watch List, also averages 2.32 steals and 1.36 blocks per game and has recorded seven double-doubles this season.
Junior guard Trevan Leonhardt averages 11.8 points and a team-best 6.0 assists per game, ranking among the national leaders in assists. Tyler Hendricks adds 12.2 points per game and leads the WAC in three-pointers made per game.
California Baptist enters Thursday's contest at 19-7 overall and 9-4 in WAC play. The Lancers are led by Dominique Daniels Jr., who ranks among the conference's top scorers. CBU has won six of its last eight games entering the matchup.
This will mark the third meeting between the two teams this season, with each squad previously defending its home floor. Utah Valley most recently dropped a 78-71 overtime decision at California Baptist on Jan. 24 in Riverside after the Lancers pulled away in the extra period. The Wolverines won the first meeting 73-66 in Orem on Dec. 29 and lead the all-time series 12-5.
Following Thursday's game, Utah Valley will hit the road to face UT Arlington on Saturday.
