Tanner Toolson scored 17 points and Drake Allen scored 13 points in the second half to lead Utah Valley to a 74-67 road win over Abilene Christian on Saturday afternoon at Moody Coliseum, snapping the Wildcats’ seven-game win streak.

Utah Valley wraps up regular season play with a 16-15 overall record and an 11-9 WAC mark. Abilene Christian falls to 15-16 overall and 10-10 in league play. The Wolverines have won seven of their last eight games heading into next week’s WAC Tournament.

“That was just a tremendous performance tonight,” said Utah Valley head coach Todd Phillips. “That was a heck of a game. That’s two straight wins on the road where we have snapped a long win streak. Abilene hasn’t lost since they were at our place. It was just a gutty performance by our guys tonight.”

After ACU led 38-35 at halftime, Dorius and Toolson got thing as UVU opened the second half outscoring the Wildcats 14-5 to build up a 49-43 lead with 15:23 on the clock.

ACU came back with a 9-2 run over the next 5:35 to retake the lead, 52-51, with 9:48 to go.

Leading 57-56 with 7:50 to play, Utah Valley used an 8-1 run to jump out to an eight-point, 65-57, lead with 4:24 to play.

ACU was only able to get as close as three points the rest of the way, 70-67, with 44 seconds to go. Allen then made a layup and Toolson knocked down a pair of free throws with four seconds on the clock to secure the 74-67 win.

Toolson scored his 17 points on a 5 of 12 clip from the field, including a 3 of 7 mark from long range. He was a perfect 4 for 4 from the free throw line He also dished out a pair of assists and had two steals.

Caleb Stone-Carrawell scored 15 points off the bench on 6 of 13 shooting. He hit one shot from beyond the arc and was a perfect 2 of 2 from the charity stripe.

Ethan Potter was also in double figures with 10 points and just missed a second straight double-double with nine rebounds.

Utah Valley shot 48.3% (29-60) from the field with a 50% (7-14) clip from long range. UVU was 64.3% (9-14) from the free throw line. Abilene Christian shot 48% (24-50) from the floor with a 27.3% (3-11) mark from beyond the arc.

UVU outrebounded ACU 36-29 and outscored the Wildcats 38-36 in the paint.

Allen scored all 13 of his points in the second half, knocking down 6 of 12 shots from the floor, including a shot from 3-point range. Allen also had five assists, three rebounds, and a steal.

UVU earned the No. 5 seed and will take on No. 8 California Baptist in the first round of the 2024 Hercules Tires Western Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament.

The Wolverines will play CBU on Wednesday at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. (PT). The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

The Wolverines swept this year’s two-game WAC series against the Lancers, taking a 65-58 win at home on Jan. 4, and a 69-46 win over CBU in Riverside on Feb. 15.

UVU has won five straight over the Lancers and have won seven of the last eight meetings. Wednesday’s game will mark the first time the two teams have met in the WAC Tournament.

A win on Wednesday in the first round would advance the Wolverines to Thursday’s quarterfinal game against No. 3 Seattle.

2024 Hercules Tires WAC Basketball Tournament – Men’s Seeds And Schedule

(Top seed in each matchup will be designated home team)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, ORLEANS ARENA, LAS VEGAS – MEN’S FIRST ROUND

No. 8 California Baptist vs. No. 5 Utah Valley – 6 p.m. PT (ESPN+)

No. 7 Abilene Christian vs. No. 6 Stephen F. Austin – 8:30 p.m. PT (ESPN+)

THURSDAY, MARCH 14, ORLEANS ARENA, LAS VEGAS – MEN’S QUARTERFINALS

Game 1 Winner vs. No. 4 Seattle U – 6 p.m. PT (ESPN+)

Game 2 Winner vs. No. 3 UT Arlington – 8:30 p.m. PT (ESPN+)

FRIDAY, MARCH 15, ORLEANS ARENA, LAS VEGAS – MEN’S SEMIFINALS

Game 3 Winner vs. No. 1 Grand Canyon – 6 p.m. PT (ESPN+)

Game 4 Winner vs. No. 2 Tarleton State – 8:30 p.m. PT (ESPNU)

SATURDAY, MARCH 16, ORLEANS ARENA, LAS VEGAS – MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner – 8:30 p.m. PT (ESPN2)

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