OREM — Despite a whirlwind of a week, Utah Valley men's hoops came away with a key 68-55 victory over Abilene Christian, whom they fell to earlier this season, and improved to 17-6 on the season.
The win was the 23rd consecutive win at the UCCU Center, which is the fourth longest home winning streak in the nation.
Despite the win, it feels clouded over the Wolverines lawsuit that impedes them from competing in the conference tournament.
Earlier in the week, the Western Athletic Conference announced a $1 million lawsuit against Utah Valley University. Expelling all UVU Athletics from post-season conference play, NCAA tournament play, and removal of all live broadcasting rights of home games.
In what seems like one of Utah Valley's best chances to make the NCAA Tournament, the Wolverines are now ineligible to participate by the WAC and are deemed not in good standing with the conference unless the buyout is paid.
"We addressed it. The great thing is we have been going through a lot this year and we keep moving forward. It was a simple conversation. I have confidence and the utmost respect and confidence in our administration that they will get this done and we will play in the tournament. It's at the bottom of my list."
"Proud of the guys, the driving force is to win the league and we need to win our home games." Wolverine head coach Todd Phillips said after the win. "Abilene does a great job of speeding you up, but in the second half we told the guys slow is fast and got easy ones."
In the win, Tyler Hendricks led all scorers with 18 points with 12 of them coming in the second half where the Wolverines scored 42 of their 68 points.
"Our coaches have just told us to stay focused and the other stuff will figure itself out," Hendricks said.
Abilene Christian hit three shots from beyond the arc to open their scoring, but with 8:23 left in the half the Wildcats still hadn't made a 2-point basket.
The Wolverines controlled the scoring 15-12 while Taylor Hendricks led the scoring with six points.
Abilene Christian hit its first 2-point basket with just over five minutes to play in the half, but Utah Valley maintained its lead 19-14.
The Wolverines had a chance to extend its lead to double digits, but a blown layup and back-to-back turnovers gave Abiliene Christian life and trimmed its deficit to two just before the half.
Isaac Davis opened the second half with authority on a posterizing alley-oop before falling on the ground after landing on a Wildcat. Davis was given a technical foul for the contact which led to two missed free throws for Abilene Christian.
Utah Valley continued to shoot well in the second half, elevating a 19-7 run capped off by Tyler Hendricks.
The Wolverines elevated its shooting percentage to 73% with four minutes left in the second half, 17-of-23 from the floor with four of the misses coming via 3-point attempts.
While Utah Valley held a 26-point lead with six minutes to go, Phillips emptied the bench and the Wildcats starters were able to make a late push to bring it closer than the game indicated.
