Utah Valley improves to 7-3 on the season and has now won five of its last six games. Idaho State falls to 6-5.

Tied 69-69 with 1:24 remaining, Davis scored inside to put Utah Valley back in front. After an Idaho State miss and a UVU turnover, ISU’s Connor Hollenbeck missed a go-ahead three with seven seconds left. Noah Taitz secured the rebound, was fouled and made both free throws to close out the win.

The Wolverines had to grind through a physical battle. Phillips said Idaho State’s size and toughness created the type of game he anticipated, noting that the Bengals “are really good” and “so tough and physical” across every position. He added that UVU’s roster has been battling illness and injuries in recent days, but “this time of year there are no excuses” and several players off the bench delivered important minutes.

Utah Valley fell behind 21-9 early before responding with an 18-3 run to take control late in the first half. Phillips said the early timeout was driven by a need for more energy, explaining that the Wolverines were “a little lethargic in warmups” and needed a spark to match Idaho State’s intensity. The response helped UVU build a 36-32 lead at halftime.

Davis powered the Wolverines inside, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting with six rebounds. Holcombe matched him with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting and added seven rebounds, two steals and a block. Taitz scored 11 points with four rebounds, while Trevan Leonhardt pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds, handed out eight assists and scored six points. Sherman Weatherspoon IV added seven points off the bench.

Phillips said Davis’ defensive presence was equally important, crediting him for matching Idaho State’s physicality. He said the Bengals’ post players are “big at every position,” but Davis handled the matchup well and helped UVU defend ISU’s inside-out attack.

The Wolverines shot 48.2 percent from the field and held Idaho State to 43.6 percent. UVU won the rebounding battle 38-25 and outscored ISU 42-22 in the paint. Phillips said those categories were a major focus, telling his team that winning both areas would put them in position to win. The Wolverines delivered on both.

On Idaho State’s final possession, Phillips said the goal was to contest without fouling while forcing the Bengals to burn clock and take a tough shot. He said UVU “did a good job” executing the sequence that preserved the victory.

Utah Valley will continue play Saturday in the Salt Lake Slam against UC Santa Barbara at Delta Center. Tipoff is set for noon. Tickets are available at SeatGeek.com.