Utah Valley Edges Out Weber State in Rivalry Showdown

OGDEN, Utah – Carter Welling led the way with a game-high 22 points, powering Utah Valley to a hard-fought 64-62 road victory over in-state rival Weber State on Saturday night at the Dee Events Center.

The Wolverines, secured their second straight Big Sky Conference road win, improving their record to 7-6 on the season. Weber State dropped to 6-7.

A Back-and-Forth Battle

The game was a tight contest throughout, with neither team able to gain a decisive lead. A pivotal moment came midway through the second half when Utah Valley went on a 10-1 run to stretch their advantage to nine points. However, Weber State fought back late, cutting the deficit to two in the final minute.

In the end, Utah Valley held on for the victory, thanks in large part to strong defensive play.

Welling Shines for Utah Valley

Welling was unstoppable for Utah Valley, shooting a blistering 8-of-11 from the field, including 4-of-6 from beyond the three-point arc. He also added six rebounds and matched a career-high with five blocks.

“Carter was really good tonight for us and carried us a lot of the stretch. He even went and got three offensive rebounds, which was huge for us,” said Utah Valley head coach Todd Phillips.

Holcombe Provides Spark Off the Bench

Jackson Holcombe was another key contributor for the Wolverines. The freshman came off the bench to score 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.

“The goal is to make them shoot a tough, contested shot,” Holcombe said. “You don’t want to give them anything easy, especially on the road. I think we did a good job forcing them into a really difficult attempt.”

Looking Ahead

Utah Valley will now enjoy a break for the holidays before concluding non-conference play at home against Bethesda on Saturday, Dec. 28. The game is scheduled to tip off at 2 p.m.

How It Happened

First Half

The teams were tied 9-9 through the opening 4:30 of the game. Weber State then outscored Utah Valley 5-3 over the next two minutes to take a 14-9 lead with 13:39 remaining in the half. A dunk by Holcombe ignited a 16-6 run for the Wolverines over the next seven minutes, giving them a 25-18 lead with 7:08 left on the clock. Utah Valley maintained its advantage, leading 27-22 with 5:28 to go. Weber State answered with a 9-5 run over the next three minutes, trimming the Wolverine lead to 32-30 with 2:38 remaining. UVU outscored WSU 6-5 in the final minutes of the half to take a 38-35 lead into the break.

Second Half

Utah Valley extended its lead to five points, 47-42, three minutes into the second half. Weber State responded with a 9-2 run to tie the game at 49-49 with 15:05 remaining. The Wolverines answered with a decisive 10-1 run over the next eight minutes, building a 59-50 lead with seven minutes left. UVU maintained its lead, holding a 64-56 advantage with just over three minutes to play. However, Weber State scored six unanswered points, cutting the lead to 64-62 with 1:28 left. After UVU missed a pair of free throws, Weber State had a chance to tie or win on the final possession. WSU’s Blaise Threatt missed a contested three-pointer at the buzzer, and Utah Valley held on for the 64-62 victory.