OREM—Utah Valley returns home Thursday night to host Abilene Christian in a key conference matchup at the UCCU Center. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN The Fan (960 AM/103.9 FM/98.3 FM), with the pregame show beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Utah Valley (16-6, 6-3 WAC) enters the week in a three-way tie for first place in the league standings alongside California Baptist and UT Arlington. The Wolverines are coming off an 83-55 road win at Tarleton State in which they erased an 11-point first-half deficit and pulled away behind 20 points from Trevan Leonhardt and 17 from Isaac Davis.
UVU has been dominant at home this season, owning a 10-0 record at the UCCU Center and riding a 22-game home winning streak dating back to last season, the fifth-longest active home win streak in the nation. The Wolverines are outscoring opponents by 13.9 points per game on the year while shooting 50.9 percent from the field and holding opponents to 40.6 percent shooting.
Nationally, Utah Valley ranks seventh in assists per game (19.3), 12th in field goal percentage (50.9%), 13th in blocks per game (5.5) and 15th in steals per game (9.5). The balanced statistical profile has helped UVU climb to No. 88 in the latest NCAA NET rankings, the top mark among current WAC programs.
Leonhardt continues to anchor the backcourt, averaging 11.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. He is one of just three Division I players nationally averaging at least 11.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per contest. Forward Jackson Holcombe leads the team in scoring (16.2 ppg), rebounding (7.6 rpg) and double-doubles (7) while shooting 55.1 percent from the field. Tyler Hendricks adds 11.6 points per game and leads the WAC with 51 made three-pointers, shooting 45.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Abilene Christian (10-11, 2-6 WAC) defeated Utah Valley 85-68 in Abilene on Jan. 3 and will look for a season sweep. The Wildcats are coming off a 79-76 home loss to Southern Utah despite forcing 22 turnovers. ACU ranks among the national leaders in steals per game and turnovers forced, building its identity around defensive pressure and transition opportunities.
Bradyn Hubbard leads ACU in scoring at 15.5 points per game, while Rich Smith averages 10.6 points and a team-best 4.9 assists per contest. The Wildcats average 71.6 points per game and force 16.0 turnovers per contest but have struggled defensively in half-court settings, allowing opponents to shoot 48.2 percent from the field.
Utah Valley and Abilene Christian meet for the 10th time overall, with the Wolverines holding a 6-3 edge in the series. UVU is 3-1 against ACU in Orem.
The matchup begins a two-game homestand for Utah Valley, which will also host UT Arlington on Saturday afternoon.
