CHICAGO, Ill. – Six Wolverines scored in double-figures as Utah Valley knocked off Chicago State, 101-87, on the road at the Jones Convocation Center on Thursday night in the Windy City. Every player that played for the Wolverines scored as UVU had an historic night shooting the ball. Utah Valley shot 69.1 percent from the field, its best percentage since 2014, and 72.7 percent from deep, its best clip since 2007.

Utah Valley has now won three straight and improves to 14-6 on the season, including 5-3 in WAC play. The Cougars drop to 6-14 on the year and 2-5 in conference play.

“There was a lot of unselfish play and concentration out there and I’m impressed that we bounced back in this fashion,” said Utah Valley head men’s basketball coach Mark Madsen. “This was a good basketball game all around and our players were fearless. I’m really proud of our guys. We do a lot of shooting drills in practice but they get a lot of shooting in on their own and it showed.”

The Wolverines outscored Chicago State 16-11 in the final five minutes to take a 52-36 lead into the break.

After exchanging baskets to start the second half, the Cougars used an 11-2 run to cut the lead down to 59-52 with 16:34 to go in the game. Connor Harding scored the next eight points for UVU to get the Wolverines back on track as Utah Valley pushed its lead back out to 71-59 with 12:29 remaining. Chicago State made a final push, using a 9-2 surge to trim the lead down to 73-68 with just over 10 minutes left in the game, but that would be the closed CSU would get the rest of the way. Justin Harmon sparked a 7-0 run to put the game out of reach and the Wolverines hit free throws down the stretch to come away with the win, 101-87.

Harding led the Wolverines with 18 points on 7 of 8 shooting, including 4 of 5 from downtown. Aimaq chipped in 17 points and five rebounds and Ceaser scored a career-high 17 points on 6 of 9 shooting, including a perfect 4 of 4 from the charity stripe. Tim Fuller added a season-high 15 points, on 7 of 9 shooting, and five rebounds while Le’Tre Darthard finished with 13 points and five rebounds. Harmon scored 12 points off the bench to go along with four assists while Jaden McClanahan dished out four assists.

The Wolverines shot 17-for-19 from the charity stripe and won the rebounding battle 33-15. UVU also held a 48-40 advantage in the paint and Utah Valley’s bench outscored Chicago State’s 34-9. The Wolverines never trailed and made a season high 38 field goals.

The Wolverines continue on the road as UVU heads to WAC-newcomer Stephen F. Austin on Thursday, Feb. 3, at 5:30 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+ and ESPN 960 AM. Utah Valley then travels to Sam Houston on Saturday, Feb. 5, at 1:00 p.m. MT.

Women take care of Chicago State

Utah Valley got a career-high 22 points from Babalu Stewart, Maria Carvalho added 20 points and seven assists and Josie Williams finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds in an 82-62 win over Chicago State on Thursday night at the UCCU Center.

The trio went for 60 points and combined to make 21 of their 33 attempts from the field on a night the Wolverines (9-10, 4-4) shot a season-high 56.9% (29-for-51) from the floor. Williams, who also had a career-high six assists and matched a career-best with five blocks, recorded her 12th double-double and is now just four points shy of 1,000 for her career.

“We were able to get the ball inside tonight and as a result shot the ball really well. Getting Babalu back from injury and illness has been big for us and you can see what she’s able to do. She helped set the tone for us early,” said UVU head coach Dan Nielson. “We’ve got some really good teams coming in here next week and a tough road trip after that so we’re focusing on consistency and continuing to build on this momentum.”

Carvalho and Stewart scored seven straight points for Utah Valley to increase the lead to 38-25 with 2:49 left in the half. In the second quarter, the free-throw line was a difference maker. UVU went 8-for-9 as a team, while Williams made four late in the half. Stewart had 18 of her 22 in the opening half.

In the third, Megan Jensen had four of her nine points in the paint, which helped push the lead to 57-35. UVU finished with 38 points in the paint on the night. The lead swelled to as much as 24 late in the third quarter after Carvalho and Tahlia White both scored on driving layups.

The Wolverines have now beaten Chicago State in seven straight contests. It is the last scheduled contest between the two teams with the Cougars set to leave the WAC after this 2021-22 season.

Utah Valley will continue to play at home next week against a pair of WAC newcomers. Last season’s Southland Conference champions, Stephen F. Austin, will be in Orem next Thursday, Feb. 3 for a 6 p.m. MT tip. UVU will also host Sam Houston on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. MT. Both games will be played in Lockhart Arena.

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