OREM—Utah Valley returns home to the UCCU Center on Thursday night to host Tarleton State at 6 p.m. MT in a key Western Athletic Conference matchup as the Wolverines continue their push toward a second-straight WAC regular-season championship. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and over the airwaves on ESPN The Fan.
The Wolverines enter Thursday's contest at 20-7 overall and 10-4 in WAC play after earning a gritty 66-55 road win at UT Arlington on Saturday. Utah Valley holds a half-game lead atop the conference standings with four games remaining and will play the first of its final two home games of the regular season this week before closing the home slate on Saturday for Senior Night.
Thursday marks the third meeting of the season between Utah Valley and Tarleton State, with the Wolverines looking to complete a three-game season sweep after winning both previous matchups in Texas earlier this year. Utah Valley has leaned on its defense and physicality in the series, controlling the glass and limiting scoring opportunities in both wins.
Utah Valley continued its strong late-season play in Saturday's win over UT Arlington, overcoming a halftime deficit behind double-doubles from Jackson Holcombe and Trevan Leonhardt. Holcombe finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Leonhardt added 13 points and 10 boards as the Wolverines dominated the paint and pulled down 23 offensive rebounds, the second-most in a single game in program history.
The Wolverines have been dominant at home, winning 25 straight games at the UCCU Center, tied for one of the longest active home win streaks in the nation. Utah Valley is a perfect 13-0 at home this season, averaging 85.5 points per game while allowing just 62.1 and outscoring opponents by more than 23 points per contest on its home floor.
Leonhardt continues to be one of the most versatile players in the country, averaging 11.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.2 steals per game, making him the only Division I player nationally averaging at least 11 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals per game. Holcombe leads Utah Valley in scoring and rebounding at 15.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while ranking among the national leaders in steals.
Tarleton State enters Thursday's game looking to play spoiler down the stretch of league play. The Texans have shown improvement late in the season and bring one of the WAC's most aggressive defensive styles, applying full-court pressure and forcing opponents into difficult offensive possessions.
Utah Valley will close the regular season with two home games this week before heading back on the road for the final stretch of WAC play, knowing every game carries major conference championship implications.
