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UVU fans cheer during the game against BYU at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (Courtesy UVU Marketing)

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UVU sophomore guard Justin Harmon goes up for a shot during the game against BYU at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (Courtesy UVU Marketing)

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UVU head coach Mark Madsen directs his team during the game against BYU at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (Courtesy UVU Marketing)

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For UVU president Astrid Tuminez and athletic director Jared Sumsion, Wednesday night had to be an incredibly satisfying experience.

Not only was the recently renovated UCCU Center nearly filled to capacity for a Wolverine men’s basketball game, many of them decked out in the provided green “We are Utah Valley” T-shirts, but UVU also didn’t look the least bit intimidated facing the No. 12-ranked in the country, BYU.

Instead, the Wolverines rose to the challenge.

It was far from the prettiest performance of the season for UVU but Wolverine head coach Mark Madsen wasn’t after style points.

He and his team wanted the biggest win in program history.

And, somehow, some way, they put themselves in a spot to force overtime.

It was a story of how UVU competed for not just every ball but for virtually every position on the course, constantly frustrating the Cougars and forcing them out of what they wanted to do.

There was the clear determination of Connor Harding and Blaze Nield, two players who had been at BYU before electing to join the Wolverines.

There was the relentless effort around the basket by Fardaws Aimaq as he pursued rebounds with even more energy than he usually does, finishing with 22 for the game.

There was the defensive aggression of Le’Tre Darthard, who spent much of the game pursuing Cougar star guard Alex Barcello.

There was the emotion and explosiveness of Jaden McClanahan and Justin Harmon as they put their hearts into every possession at both ends of the court.

Every single one of those efforts was needed as UVU refused to let BYU pull away, always staying within two or three possessions.

It was a Wolverine team who trailed 50-43 late in the second half, but — aided by a couple of costly missed free throws by the Cougars — came roaring back.

Aimaq and Harmon made a pair of layups while being fouled, then hit the free throws to make it a one-point game, then Aimaq made a crucial hook shot in the lane to give UVU its first lead since 11-9.

A dunk by Tim Fuller gave the Wolverines a shocking three-point lead with under a minute to play, but the drama was just getting started.

BYU got a couple of free throws, then Aimaq made 1-of-2 from the line to keep it as a two-point game.

Cougar guard Spencer Johnson was fouled after getting the rebound but missed both foul shots. BYU was able to get the rebound to hit off a Wolverine player and out of bounds, followed by Johnson making up for his misses by hitting a driving layup to tie things up with 1.7 seconds left.

UVU wasn’t able to get a final shot up and the game headed to the extra period,  which wouldn’t be over until after press deadline.

Regardless of what happened in overtime, UVU sent a message that its record is a legitimate indicator that the Wolverines are a good team, maybe even a really good one (particularly if junior guard Trey Woodbury is able to return from injury later this season).

This is a squad that will scrap and fight, one that can compete in a variety of ways:

It can go inside to Aimaq and Fuller.

It can attack off the bounce with Harding and Harmon.

It can harass defensively with Darthard and Nield.

Most importantly, it has the maturity to keep battling, no matter what.

Look, this was clearly a monumental game for UVU and the Wolverines were ready to give it all they had.

There will be more such games later in the season, particularly when they get to WAC competition and in the WAC tournament.

If this was the team that shows up for those games, it’s going to be a thrilling year for UVU fans.

Hopefully this will be the first of many times when the UCCU Center is rocking,