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UVU sophomore center Fardaws Aimaq shoots a 3-pointer during the WAC game against Dixie State at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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UVU junior Blaze Nield goes up for a shot during the WAC game against Dixie State at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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UVU junior Blaze Nield dribbles up the court during the WAC game against Dixie State at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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UVU junior Asa McCord makes a layup during the WAC game against Dixie State at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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UVU sophomore Fardaws Aimaq battles for position during the WAC game against Dixie State at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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UVU sophomore Tim Fuller goes up for a layup during the WAC game against Dixie State at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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UVU junior Connor Harding shoots a 3-pointer during the WAC game against Dixie State at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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UVU head coach Mark Madsen talks to junior Blaze Nield during the WAC game against Dixie State at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Dixie State senior Hunter Schofield, a former Spanish Fork star, passes the ball during the WAC game against UVU at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Dixie State freshman Noa Gonsalves, a former Lehi star, watches the action during the WAC game against UVU at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald)

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Neither the UVU men’s basketball team nor the visitors from Dixie State were shy about launching from beyond the arc during the first half of Saturday’s Old Hammer Rivalry game at the UCCU Center in Orem.

The difference was that the Wolverines made more than twice as many treys as the Trailblazers did.

UVU knocked down seven 3-pointers in 12 attempts, compared to Dixie State making just 3-of-14 in the opening 20 minutes of action.

That differential allowed the Wolverines to open up a big lead and although the Trailblazers stayed within striking distance for the rest of the contest, they could never erase the early deficit as UVU secured the 79-71 win.

“That Dixie State team scraps hard,” Wolverine head coach Mark Madsen said. “They are extremely well-coached and we have nothing but respect for them. It was a great battle with two in-state rivals.”

Madsen said the early outside-shooting success — led by a pair each from juniors Asa McCord and Blaze Nield — forced Dixie State to not be as aggressive with its inside defense.

“I was happy with that for a couple of reasons,” Madsen said. “Not only does it stretch the defense, but sometimes when you are making them you start taking bad shots. We didn’t take bad ones. We took that good ones that were there, that were open, and guys knocked them down. It helped a lot.”

UVU ended up with a 36-26 lead in points in the paint, many of which were scored by Aimaq. He had another monster game with 20 points, 17 rebounds and four assists.

“Basketball is pretty simple,” Aimaq said. “If you can knock down shots from the outside, the inside is going to be open. Then if you are killing them from the inside, then they are going to collapse and shots on the outside are going to be open. Coach doesn’t tell us to pound it inside or just take threes. It’s if you are wide-open with whatever shot you have, you take it. We’ve shot it really well and plays like that are huge for us to win games.”

The Wolverines had four other players in double figures as junior Connor Harding put up 14 points, Nield had 13, sophomore Tim Fuller tallied 12 and McCord scored 11.

“It tells you that there are different weapons out there,” Madsen said. “We’ve had some problems with injuries but guys have stepped up. Guys are making plays out there.”

He loved seeing 24 assists on 29 made field goals, but would’ve liked to see fewer turnovers.

“When you see that many assists, it tells you that your players are unselfish, that they are bought into the team concept and that you have a group of extremely talented players,” Madsen said. “I was really happy to see how we shared the ball. Obviously the turnovers were an issue. We had too many turnovers late but all in all it was a pretty good effort from our guys.”

The Wolverine miscues late allowed the Trailblazers to cut what had been a 20-point UVU lead to just six in the final minute, but the home team made their shots to close out the victory.

“Conference play is going to be tough every single night,” Aimaq said. “You’ve got to come to play every night and no lead is safe. We went up, they came back and we kept going back up. It shows this team is locked in, focused and ready to go.”

UVU (11-4, 2-1) is scheduled to play at Seattle on Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. MT, but knows there is a lot of uncertainty right now because of the omicron variant of COVID-19.

“It’s challenging,” Madsen said. “We are close to 95% vaccinated but with the variant, it is breaking through at times. We are hoping and are working like we are going to play every game, but we know that at some point we will probably be hit with it. Hopefully we can continue to play but safety will always come first.”

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