The Utah Valley University men’s basketball team started the season 0-1 after falling on the road against Utah State University 75-58 on Tuesday. Aziz Bandaogo socred 17 points for the Wolverines in his UVU debut.
The Wolverines were ice cold from the field and couldn’t get going offensively in the loss. As a team, they shot 32% and a frigid 15.8% from beyond the arch. Cam Alford scored 13 points for the Wolverines yet no other player found their way to double-figure scoring. Shooting woes plagued the Wolverines, as they shot just 1-9 from three in the second half while allowing the Aggies to shoot 42% from three.
The first half was mostly close until at six minutes left to play, the Aggies rallied off a 5-0 run to claim a 30-22 lead. Despite cutting that lead to four, the Wolverines game up an 11-2 run to close the half, unable to close out on Aggie three-point shooters. UVU went into the break down 41-28.
The Wolverines made a run at this game, with Alford and Justin Harmon hitting back-to-back fast break jumpers to skim the Aggie lead to just four. However, after trailing 55-51 midway through the second half, the Wolverine defense gave way and allowed a four point defecit to balloon to a 17 point defecit, effecitvely ending the Wolverine’s chances at a victory.
UVU was outscored 41-28 in the first half, proving the difference maker as the Wolverines were unable to successfully mount a comeback.
