OREM—Utah Valley continues its homestand Saturday afternoon as the Wolverines host UT Arlington at 2 p.m. MT at the UCCU Center on Homecoming Day. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN The Fan (960 AM / 103.9 FM / 98.3 FM) with the pregame show beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Utah Valley (17-6, 7-3 WAC) enters the matchup riding a two-game winning streak following Thursday's 68-55 victory over Abilene Christian. The win marked the program's 23rd straight home victory, setting a new school record and giving UVU the fourth-longest active home winning streak in NCAA Division I.
The Wolverines remain unbeaten at home this season at 11-0 and are averaging 87.8 points per game while allowing just 63.7 at the UCCU Center. UVU is shooting 53.8 percent from the field in Orem and holding opponents to 38.0 percent shooting.
Utah Valley continues to rank among the national leaders statistically, sitting No. 7 in assists per game (19.3), No. 10 in blocks per game (5.7), No. 13 in field goal percentage (50.9 percent), No. 11 in steals per game (9.7), and No. 28 in scoring margin (+13.8). The Wolverines also rank No. 35 nationally in field goal percentage defense (40.5 percent).
Redshirt sophomore forward Jackson Holcombe leads the team in scoring (16.0 ppg), rebounding (7.7 rpg), steals (2.22 spg), and double-doubles (7) while shooting 55.6 percent from the field. Junior guard Trevan Leonhardt averages 11.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game and ranks 23rd nationally in total assists (139). Tyler Hendricks adds 11.9 points per contest and leads the WAC with 54 three-pointers this season. Leonhardt is one of just two players nationally averaging 11 or more points, five or more rebounds, and six or more assists per game.
UT Arlington (14-8, 6-4 WAC) enters Saturday after an 87-84 double-overtime loss at Utah Tech on Thursday night. The Mavericks have dropped two straight conference games, both in overtime, but remain one game behind Utah Valley in the league standings.
UTA is led by Raysean Seamster, who averages 14.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game while shooting 51.7 percent from the field. Marcell McCreary adds 13.5 points per game, and Casmir Chavis contributes 9.6 points and a team-best 4.0 assists per contest.
Defensively, UT Arlington ranks 32nd nationally in scoring defense (67.1 ppg) and No. 1 in the nation in three-point percentage defense (26.1 percent). The Mavericks also rank 25th nationally in rebounding margin (+7.2), creating one of the league's most physical interior matchups.
Saturday marks the 10th all-time meeting between the two programs, with Utah Valley holding a 5-4 series advantage and winning three straight. The Wolverines earned an 86-74 victory over the Mavericks in Orem on Jan. 17.
Saturday's game will tipoff at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN The Fan (960 AM / 103.9 FM / 98.3 FM).
