Fardaws Aimaq recorded his nation-leading sixth double-double of the season with 19 points and a game-high 14 rebounds to lead Utah Valley to a 77-68 overtime win over Denver on Saturday afternoon at the UCCU Center.

The win is the sixth straight for Utah Valley as the team improves to 6-1, the best seven-game start to a season in UVU history. The overtime game is the third extra-time contest of the year for the Wolverines who have won all three.

“I was proud of our guys,” said Utah Valley head coach Mark Madsen. “Our guys scrapped and fought. Justin Harmon made some huge plays down the stretch, got to the basket, and made his free throws. Once the overtime hit, I think our experience from our other overtime games really helped us.”

The two teams played to a 15-15 tie with four ties and five lead changes through the first 11 minutes of the game. Denver (3-5) then went on a 7-0 run to take a 22-15 lead with 8:22 remaining in the first half. A Connor Harding three and an Aimaq layup got the Wolverines to within three points, 26-23, with five minutes to play. The two teams then played even the rest of the way as Denver took a 30-27 lead into the break.

A pair of Aimaq buckets and two Harding free throws gave UVU a 33-32 lead just three minutes into the second half. Denver then responded with a 90-1 run to take a seven-point advantage, 41-34. Down 48-41, Utah Valley used a 10-2 run to take back the lead, 51-50, with 6:12 to play. The two teams then played through three ties and three lead changes before Le’Tre Darthard knocked down a pair of free throws to give UVU a 59-57 lead with 1:48 to play.

DU’s Tevin Smith then knocked down a three to give the Pioneers a 60-59 lead with 55 seconds to play. Harmon then connected on a layup to give UVU back the lead, 61-60, with 40 seconds to go. DU’s Jordan Johnson then hit a three from the left side to give DU a 63-61 lead with 25 seconds to play. Harmon went to the basket again and was fouled and connected on both free throws to tie the game back up at 63-63 with 19 seconds to go. The Wolverines then stopped the Pioneers as time expired to force overtime.

Harmon was fouled and hit a pair of free throws and Blaze Nield connected on a layup and a free throw to give the Wolverines a 68-65 lead with 3:21 to play in overtime. Darthard then responded to a DU bucket with a driving layup while fouled. He then made the free throw to give the Wolverines a 71-67 lead with three minutes to play. UVU then outscored DU 6-1 the rest of the way to secure the 77-68 win.

Aimaq scored his 19 points on 8 of 13 shooting from the field and a 3 of 6 mark from the free throw line. He also had three assists and three blocks in the win.

Harmon scored a career-high 15 points on 4 of 8 shots from the field and a 7 of 9 mark from the free throw line. Darthard also had a career high with 13 points, connecting on 4 of 8 shots from the floor. He also dished out a career-high six assists with a career-high four steals and three rebounds.

Harding was also in double figures with 11 points. Tim Fuller had eight points, while Nield had six points with three assists.

Utah Valley continues play at home on Wednesday, Dec. 1 against in-state rival BYU in a UCCU Crosstown Clash game at the UCCU Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Tickets are available at GoUVU.com/MbbTix.

UVU women runs past Portland State

Megan Jensen and Madison Grange had career scoring nights while Josie Williams and Kayla Anderson also set new highs statistically in a 62-43 win over Portland State University on Saturday in the UCCU Center.

Jensen scored 14 of her game-high 19 in the second half while Grange finished with 18 and hit all four of her attempts from three. Williams added 17 points and set a new career-high with 19 rebounds and Anderson had a career-best nine assists. UVU (4-2) assisted on 21 of 24 made field goals.

Jensen, Grange and Williams combined to score 54 of the team’s 62 points and shoot 21-for-30 from the field; Williams was 7-for-9, Grange 5-for-7, and Jensen hit 9-of-14. The Wolverines had a 49-30 edge on the glass and held the Vikings (3-2) to just 24.4% (15-for-59) from the field.

“Defensively, the girls were really focused on their preparations this week, and everybody stepped up today,” said UVU head coach Dan Nielson. “I’m really happy for the girls and hopefully can build on this as we get ready for a really good UNLV team next week.”

Wolverine wrestling’s Isaiah Delgado crowned Cowboy Open champ

A total of nine Utah Valley University grapplers earned podium finishes on Saturday at the Cowboy Open and junior Isaiah Delgado led the way by winning the 141-pound championship while competing unattached on Saturday in Laramie.

The open tournament title marks the second straight for Delgado, as he previously was crowned the Roadrunner Open champion last weekend. Delgado, who is planning on redshirting the 2021-22 season for the Wolverines, went a perfect 4-0 on Saturday en route to winning the 141-pound Cowboy Open crown.

“This was a great chance for most of our younger guys to get matches against starters from top competition (ASU and Wyoming). Our two-year plan is to get as many top-level matches for our redshirts and non-starters as possible. This is a great young group, and they are hungry to develop. These matches, whether we won or lost them, will pay off for our wrestlers and our program moving forward,” head UVU coach Greg Williams said. “Isaiah has two ranked opponent wins in two weeks. We are excited for him and about his continued progress.”

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