Ben Aird had a career night with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and a school record 10 blocks in a
losing effort as UVU lost to NJIT to open conference play, 57-52.
“It’s hard to have [my triple-double] overshadowed with a loss,” Aird said after the game. “You
can score 50 points but if you lose you’re still not going to be very happy with it.”
This is the second time in three games that Aird scored 26 points but the first time he ever had
a triple-double to go with it. Aird now leads the team in minutes played, blocks, rebounds, and
total points scored but his effort came in vain as UVU was outplayed by NJIT and their spirited
group.
“NJIT came out and used their athleticism,” head coach Dick Hunsaker said after the game.
“They were quicker, more aggressive at times. I credit them with a terrific road win for them”
This is the second game in a row that UVU had a great indicidual effort and still loss to their
opponents. Holton Hunsaker dropped 37 points against Chattanooga and lost in Tennessee 76-
69. On Saturday night, Aird scored half the team’s points and Utah Valley still fell to conference
rivals NJIT in the losing effort.
“Absolutely the best I’ve seen Ben Aird,” coach Hunsaker said. “He was mentally in the game.”
No one else broke double digits on the scoreboard with Holton Hunsaker only scoring
nine points and Keawe Enos scoring six. NJIT’s bench outscored UVU’s bench 24-3 and
outrebounded Utah Valley 51-33 with 20 offensive rebounds. NJIT guard PJ Miller scored the
team high 14 points with four steals while both Ky Howard and Odera Nweke scored 11 off the
bench.
“One game certainly doesn’t make the season,” coach Hunsaker said. “We have a lot of
basketball to play. We’ll work hard and continue to get better.”
UVU hits the road to take on UMKC before returning home to take on another conference rival
in Houston Baptist.
