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UVU senior guard Trey Woodbury goes up for a slam dunk during the NIT quarterfinal game against Cincinnati at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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UVU junior guard Justin Harmon dribbles the basketball during the NIT quarterfinal game against Cincinnati at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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UVU sophomore center Aziz Bandaogo goes up for a slam dunk during the NIT quarterfinal game against Cincinnati at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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UVU senior guard Trey Woodbury drives to the basket during the NIT quarterfinal game against Cincinnati at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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UVU junior guard Le'Tre Darthard shoots a shot during the NIT quarterfinal game against Cincinnati at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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UVU senior guard Trey Woodbury goes up for a slam dunk during the NIT quarterfinal game against Cincinnati at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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UVU junior guard Justin Harmon shoots a shot during the NIT quarterfinal game against Cincinnati at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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UVU fans celebrate a made 3-pointer during the NIT quarterfinal game against Cincinnati at the UCCU Center in Orem on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Utah Valley junior guard Le’Tre Darthard is listed at 6-foot-4, which may be tall when walking around campus in Orem but is just average on a college basketball court.

He’s built a reputation as a guy with quick hands, tallying 45 steals in during the 2022-23 season.

But when Darthard made arguably the biggest play in Wednesday’s NIT quarterfinal game against No.4-seeded Cincinnati at the UCCU Center in Orem, it was using his quickness in a different way.

His Wolverines had seen a 12-point first-half lead evaporate when the Bearcats put together an 8-0 run just after halftime to tie the score at 41-41. Cincinnati had the momentum and the ball, looking poised to surge in front.

Bearcat senior guard David DeJulius made a move to shake free on the baseline and went up for a jumper — only to have Darthard recover and block it.

As it has all year, UVU quickly turned defense to offense as senior guard Trey Woodbury grabbed the ball and fired it down the court to where junior Justin Harmon was streaking toward the basket.

Harmon went up and threw down a thunderous dunk, giving the Wolverines a lead they would never relinquish. Cincinnati battled all the way to the end and there were tense moments in the final minutes, but UVU held on for the 74-68 win.

UVU took advantage of being on their home court early, trailing only 4-3 before going on a 22-9 run to go in front by double digits.

But the Bearcats withstood that first Wolverine haymaker, started hitting some shots to narrow the gap going into halftime.

Cincinnati came out strong but Darthard’s block and Harmon’s dunk sparked another UVU push.

The Wolverines got big baskets from Woodbury, senior Tahj Small and senior Tim Fuller, eventually going back up 62-51.

Once again the Bearcats responded. A pair of driving layups by Cincinnati freshman guard Dan Skillings Jr. pulled the Bearcats to within five points at 64-59.

The two team exchanged a bucket and a pair of free throws before UVU sophomore center Aziz Bandaogo had a dunk attempt ricochet hard off the rim and the visitors got a wide-open look from beyond the arc.

Cincinnati couldn’t get it to fall, however, nor could they get the follow to go and the Wolverines made just enough foul shots to put the game away.

UVU was led by 17 points apiece from Harmon and Woodbury, while Bandaogo scored 15, Fuller had 12 and Darthard added nine.

The Bearcats were paced by 23 points from senior Landers Nolley II while DeJulius scored 19 in the losing effort.

The Wolverines shot 45.5% from the field (25-55) and outrebounded Cincinnati, 45-40.

With the win, UVU gets another chance to play basketball in Las Vegas as they head to the Orleans Arena for the NIT semifinals.

The Wolverines will face UAB on March 28 for a shot at the championship. The game will be televised on ESPN or ESPN2.

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