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OREM — Despite not having sophomore standout Carter Welling — who didn't play due to injury caution — Utah Valley comfortably handled Bethesda (CA) 119-59 and moved to 8-6 on the season, clinching the best nonconference record in the Todd Phillips era.
The Wolverines set multiple records in the game, including most field goals made and a UCCU Center record in points scored, and nearly set a program record in points scored; Utah Valley missed the mark by just 4 points.
Utah Valley closed out the preseason slate winning four of its last five, with two wins coming on the road. Utah Valley played just four games at home prior to WAC play, and will reward themselves with a three-game home stand to open up the conference block.
"I'm happy with them. You never know what is going to happen after the layoff, but I was really proud of them tonight," Phillilps said. "I think they took the right shots and played the right way."
Tanner Toolson finished with a game high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting while hitting five shots from beyond the arc.
The Lion Angels played the Wolverines close early on, with Utah Valley holding onto a slim 15-11 lead over the first five minutes. Following the first media timeout, Utah Valley built up a 24-6 run over the next eight minutes, with Toolson and Ethan Potter leading the way with 8 points apiece.
Potter finished with 19 points on a perfect 9-of-9 shooting while grabbing eight boards after his first game back in nearly a month after suffering a concussion against Stanford.
"I feel great. I was out for the last few weeks, but it felt good to get some conditioning out there," Potter said following the win. "We moved the ball really well, and we shot the best we have all season."
Utah Valley had no issues on offense, shooting a blistering 71% from the field through the first 15 minutes of play, and connecting on 5-of-9 from beyond the arc.
At halftime, Utah Valley held a 56-29 lead, backed by shooting 70% on the floor while holding the Lion Angels to 39%. It was a solid half for Noah Taitz who filled in for Jackson Holcombe who was out with an illness. Taitz had 7 points, three assists and a rebound in eight minutes of play for Utah Valley.
Taitz finished with a career-best 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting, with the lone miss coming with 11 seconds left in the game. Tatiz also added four rebounds and five assists in the effort, all career-bests.
"It was a really good game for him," Phillilps said on Taitz. "He has been injured for the last year and a half, and he was having to come back from injury and play at a level where you can contribute. He was a good shooter at Stanford, and that is what we need him to do."
Utah Valley opened the second half on a dominant 19-3 run, sprouting a 43-point lead with just under 16 minutes to play.
The lead blistered to 60 as Utah Valley outscored the Lion Angels in the second half 63-30 and cruised to the 119-59 win.
Osiris Grady recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Trevan Leonhardt nearly recorded a double-double with 9 points and 10 assists.
