New Mexico State ends Utah Valley's 22-game home win streak, 83-78

OREM — For 22-straight games, the Utah Valley men’s basketball program has come into the UCCU Center in Orem and left with a win.

It was the second-longest active home win streak in NCAA Division I, second only to Houston's 29, and the longest one played at a single venue.

But it was no match for New Mexico State.

Eli Chuha had 20 points and 14 rebounds, and the Aggies snapped the Wolverines’ home win streak, 83-78, Saturday night in the UCCU Center.

Terrell Brown added 19 points and five rebounds for the Aggies, and teammate AJ Harris supplied 18 points, including three 3-pointers.

JoJo Zamora supplied 13 points for the Aggies (15-4, 4-1 Western Athletic).

"AJ Harris is a stud," Utah Valley coach Mark Pope said. "He's shooting 26 percent from 3-point line, and he comes in and makes big threes and gets to the rim whenever he wants. He was really good today.

"Terrell Brown was really good, and Eli Chuha was really good."

Jake Toolson led Utah Valley (13-7, 2-3 WAC) with 26 points and two rebounds, and Ben Nakwaasah added 13 points and three assists for the Wolverines.

"Yeah, it’s kind of a bummer that the streak is over," Toolson said. "We were so close; a couple more plays, take care of the ball better, and we could’ve been there.

"But if this is what it takes to get over the hump, then we’re going to learn from it."

But in front of a sellout crowd and Utah Jazz teammates Georges Niang and Naz Mitrou-Long, the Wolverines and Aggies traded blows — which is more than a reference to the postgame brawl that ignited the rivalry in 2014.

"We're disappointed about our home streak coming to an end," Pope said. "But that’s not our ultimate goal. All we’re talking about is getting better — rebounding, ball-screen defense, taking care of the ball, and trusting each other in tight moments in offense.

"We will."

Utah Valley shot an unconscious 89 percent from the field early, using a 15-3 run that finished with Conner Toolson’s trey for a 22-10 advantage just eight minutes into the game.

The Aggies cut the deficit as low as one with just over six minutes to play, but could never close the deal — and UVU used a 10-0 later in the half to pull to a 39-33 halftime lead.

"The guys played with great energy. At times, we had really good focus and really shared the ball," Pope said. "We held them to four offensive rebounds in the first half. That’s improvement for us. But we’ve got to keep getting better in that area. There are a million positives to take away from the game."

But the Aggies wouldn’t let up.

Three-pointer by Brown. Bang.

Another 3-pointer by Zamora. Boom.

Before long, New Mexico State had regained the lead, thanks to a 13-2 run early in the second half.

Toolson was huffing and puffing during the fast-paced action. Wyatt Lowell hit a 3-pointer — his second triple of the night — to help the Wolverines tread water, tying the game at 48-48 with 14:50 remaining.

As much of college basketball has devolved, the game followed the official's whistle, but the Wolverines managed to stay ahead or tied for much of the second half. Neither team led by more than four until AJ Harris drilled a three that gave the Aggies a 72-66 advantage with 2:52 left.

Then the wheels came off. Utah Valley couldn't get enough stops down the stretch, as the Aggies shot 54 percent from the field in the second half and held on for the win.

"It was stops. That’s what happens when the wheels start to fall off a little bit. They really are that good," Pope said. "One of the things about becoming a great team that is so hard is doing the right thing every single time. Being able to do the right thing every single time, the things that you don’t think will be important, you still have to do them every single time."

Utah Valley came close down the stretch, but could never regain the lead.

"We weren’t able to get enough stops to take the lead, or even get the ball back," Toolson said. "Our execution down the stretch defensively is not where it needs to be for us to take over and win that game."

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