Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Utah Valley lost 87-72 to Grand Canyon in the WAC championship game.
- Tanner Toolson scored a career-high 28 points, but it wasn't enough.
- Utah Valley will participate in the NIT, with hosting details yet to be confirmed.
LAS VEGAS — After a historic 15-1 record in conference play, Utah Valley's NCAA Tournament hopes came to an end in the WAC championship Saturday after suffering an 89-82 loss to Grand Canyon.
Utah Valley kept the game close, but Grand Canyon eventually pulled away late with free throws to clinch the win and its third consecutive WAC title on an exit to the Mountain West Conference.
The Wolverines as a team shot 19-of-28 from the free-throw line, which proved costly in a close game.
Tanner Toolson finished his tournament campaign with 28 points — a career high — on 10-of-18 shooting, while also grabbing eight rebounds in a 39-minute performance, which was also a career high.
"It hurts. It's something we've dreamed of our whole lives, but we have more games ahead of us. We have the NIT coming up soon," Toolson said. "It takes a whole team, and I am so grateful for this team and that I get to continue to be a part of it."
The Wolverines will miss out on the Big Dance but are expected to accept a bid to the NIT. It is unknown, however, if Utah Valley will host an NIT game; sources told KSL.com there are potential scheduling issues with the UCCU Center during that period.
Utah Valley went to the semifinal round of the NIT two years ago, winning three games in Orem. The NIT selection show takes place following the March Madness selection show on Sunday night.
"This group is special. We are a team to be feared," sophomore Carter Welling said on playing in the NIT.
In a tight contest, Grand Canyon opened up the second half hitting five of its first seven shots, while forcing a pair of Utah Valley turnovers, to control a 50-41 lead just four minutes in.
The Wolverines sparked a 6-0 run that cut the deficit to 5, where Utah Valley remained for much of the remainder of the game. And by the end, Grand Canyon took control from the free-throw line to eventually build up a lead Utah Valley could never overcome.
Utah Valley hit big shots late, but it was too little, too late as the Wolverines fell just short.
Grand Canyon started out the night hot, opening on a 7-2 run that propelled the team to early momentum. But the Wolverines were able to get right back in the game with two 3-pointers from Tanner Toolson and Trevan Leonhardt to take a 10-7 lead.
Utah Valley continued with the momentum, giving the Lopes fits offensively and forcing multiple turnovers, which turned into easy buckets on the other end.
The strength of Utah Valley's lead was the ability to pick up loose balls and offensive rebounds, outrebounding the Lopes 11-4 with five offensive rebounds early. But Grand Canyon entered the bonus with over 10 minutes left to play in the half, and used it against Wolverines by pouring in three straight buckets in the paint.
"I thought we fought through adversity and made a lot of big plays. We have to be a little better from the foul line," Utah Valley head coach Todd Phillips said. "We came up short, obviously, but I am really proud of the guys tonight."
Foul trouble became a common enemy for the two teams as JaKobe Coles picked up his third foul early and his front court counterpart Duke Brennan picked up his second foul late in the first half.
Grand Canyon elected to go to a small-ball lineup in hopes to speed up Utah Valley, and it worked as the Lopes went on a 6-0 run in two minutes to take a 39-32 lead.
The Wolverines failed to score over the last four minutes of the half, missed the front end of a one-and-one, and a made one of two free throws with one second left to end a nightmare final few minutes of the half.
