OREM—Isaac Davis scored a career-high 24 points to lead five Wolverines in double figures as Utah Valley held off Tarleton State for a 79-72 win Thursday night at the UCCU Center, extending its home win streak to 26 games.
Utah Valley improves to 21-7 overall and remains atop the WAC standings at 11-4 in league play. The Wolverines' 26-game home win streak is the fourth-longest active streak in the nation. Tarleton State falls to 14-15 overall and 5-11 in conference play.
"I thought the guys battled," Utah Valley head coach Todd Phillips said. "They come at you all night long with their pressure, and the big thing for us was taking care of the basketball. We only had nine turnovers against a team that's one of the best in the country at forcing them."
Both teams struggled offensively early, playing to a 10-10 tie through the opening 8:12. Davis then sparked a 17-2 Utah Valley run, scoring eight points during the stretch as the Wolverines built a 27-12 lead with 6:33 left in the first half.
Tarleton State responded with a 12-6 run to trim the deficit to 33-24, and the Texans scored four of the final six points of the half as Utah Valley carried a 35-28 lead into the break.
The Wolverines opened the second half with a 10-4 surge to extend the margin to 45-32, but Tarleton State answered with a 13-1 run fueled by back-to-back three-pointers to cut the lead to 46-45 with 13:49 remaining.
The Texans continued to push, tying the game at 61-61 with 7:06 to play. Tyler Hendricks responded with a jumper to start a 7-2 run, scoring six of those points, to put UVU back in front 68-63 with four minutes left.
After Tarleton State closed within one at 68-67, the Wolverines delivered the decisive stretch. Hendricks hit two free throws before Davis and Braden Housley converted back-to-back layups as Utah Valley scored six straight points to build a 74-67 lead with two minutes remaining. The teams traded baskets down the stretch as UVU secured the seven-point win.
"It was a chippy game, and I think it came down to composure," Davis said. "We just stayed together, stayed consistent and made plays when we needed them."
Davis finished with 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting while adding five rebounds, three assists and a block. He said the team's focus has sharpened down the stretch of conference play.
"We know these games are huge for us," Davis said. "Just staying composed and playing together, that's what helped us get this win."
Hendricks added 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Jackson Holcombe recorded 11 points and nine rebounds, while Trevan Leonhardt finished with 11 points, seven boards and four assists. Isaac Hawkins also scored 10 points off the bench.
Utah Valley shot 50 percent (28-of-56) from the field and finished 4-of-16 (25 percent) from three-point range. Tarleton State shot 40.9 percent (27-of-66) overall and hit 8-of-15 (53.3 percent) from beyond the arc.
The Texans held a 38-36 edge on the glass, including 15 offensive rebounds, but Utah Valley controlled the paint with a 44-32 scoring advantage.
"We won the battle in the paint, and that's big this time of year," Phillips said. "We moved the ball well, had 19 assists to nine turnovers, and that's a good formula for us."
Utah Valley closes out its home schedule Saturday against Abilene Christian at the UCCU Center. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m., with Noah Taitz and Hayden Welling set to be honored in a Senior Night ceremony prior to the game. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and over the airwaves on ESPN The Fan.
