OREM — Utah Valley will host George Washington in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) on Wednesday at the UCCU Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT.
Utah Valley enters the postseason with a 25-8 overall record after advancing to the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament in Las Vegas. The Wolverines captured their second straight outright WAC regular-season championship and have put together one of the most successful stretches in program history, recording back-to-back 20-win seasons.
The Wolverines have been especially strong at home this season, posting a perfect 15-0 record at the UCCU Center while extending the program's home winning streak to 27 consecutive games.The 27 game home win streak is the fourth-longest streak in the nation.
Redshirt sophomore guard Jackson Holcombe leads Utah Valley in scoring at 15.6 points per game while also averaging 7.1 rebounds. Redshirt junior guard Trevan Leonhardt continues to orchestrate the Wolverine offense, averaging 12.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game while leading the WAC in total assists and assists per game.
Leonhardt recently set the Utah Valley single-season assists record for the second straight year and also owns the program's all-time steals record. Holcombe has also rewritten the UVU record book this season, setting the school's single-season steals record.
George Washington enters the matchup with an 18-15 overall record after advancing to the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament. The Revolutionaries fell to top-seeded Saint Louis in the quarterfinal round.
Wednesday's matchup will mark the first meeting between Utah Valley and George Washington.
The winner of Wednesday's game will advance to the second round of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) to face the winner of the matchup between New Mexico and Sam Houston, with second-round games scheduled for March 21-22.
Utah Valley is making its fourth appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and its second straight postseason appearance in the event. The Wolverines previously advanced to the Final Four of the 2023 NIT with wins at New Mexico, at Colorado and vs. Cincinnati before falling in overtime to UAB in the semifinals. UVU dropped a first-round NIT matchup at San Francisco last season. Wednesday night's game will stream live on ESPN+ and over the airwaves on ESPN The Fan.
