Utah Valley had some very talented men’s basketball teams who appeared primed to make a run at the WAC tournament title in March … only to come up short.

Once under head coach Dick Hunsaker (2013-14) and twice under head coach Mark Madsen (2020-21 and 2022-23) the Wolverines had won or tied for the regular season title. Twice under head coach Mark Pope UVU was second (2017-18 and 2018-19).

But none of those teams could get past the Wolverine semifinal curse. There were blowout losses and heartbreaking collapses, but no matter what UVU always headed back to Orem after the WAC semifinals.

Until now.

Jay Drowns, UVU Marketing

Thanks to a good draw and a consistent performance in Friday night’s semifinal matchup against Seattle, 2024-25 turned out to be the year the Wolverines finally broke the jinx.

Top-seeded UVU seized control early, then held off a second-half push by the No. 5-seeded Redhawks to get the 68-55 win Friday night at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas and punch its ticket to the title game for the first time ever.

“Tonight, I think we just played as a team,” Wolverine sophomore Tanner Toolson said after the game. “We came out with the right mentality and played for each other, and that’s been key to our success all season long.”

The game was tied at 20-20 late in the first half before UVU closed things out with a 14-4 run, sparked by Toolson and Wolverine sophomore Carter Welling.

Welling drained a big 3-pointer and converted a pair of free throws, but it was Toolson who got things rocking.

Jay Drowns, UVU Marketing

He made the play of the game, stealing a Seattle pass, going behind the back with his dribble to avoid a Redhawk defender and then exploding to the basket for a monster jam that got UVU fans out of their seats.

Toolson added a 3-pointer and a putback to help the Wolverines go into the break with the 10-point cushion.

UVU extended the advantage to 14 just after halftime before Seattle started chipping away.

The Redhawks put together an 8-2 run to halve the 12-point Wolverine lead to 49-43, but that would be as close as they would get.

UVU answered with two layups and a 3-pointer by Welling to keep Seattle at bay and the Wolverines cruised to the finish line.

Jay Drowns, UVU Marketing

“Our defense was huge,” said head coach Todd Phillips. “Points in the paint, obviously, were big for us, but just being on the glass and keeping them off the glass– they’re such a good rebounding team,” Phillips said. “We preach blockouts every day, and I’m really proud of the guys who stepped up tonight.”

The WAC regular-season champs were led by Toolson’s 18 points and he also added six rebounds and three steals. Welling was right there as well, notching 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

UVU had a big rebounding advantage (38-26) as well as getting significant contributions from the bench, outscoring the Redhawks, 17-4.

Seattle (14-18) got 20 points from Kobe Williamson and 15 points and nine rebounds from Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe in the losing effort.

With the win, the Wolverines (25-7) move on to play No. 2-seed Grand Canyon, who knocked off No. 3-seed Cal Baptist, 75-66, in the other WAC semifinal game. UVU split the season series with the Lopes with both teams winning at home.

UVU players and coaches are excited to finally get a shot at being the tournament champs and making it to the NCAA Tournament.

“I’ve been watching Utah Valley since I was a little kid,” said Toolson, whose brother Conner played for the Wolverines from 2016-2019. “We’ve all worked so hard for this moment, and now we have to take advantage of it.”

The championship is scheduled to tipoff at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas at 9:40 p.m. MT on Saturday and can be seen on ESPN2.