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OREM, Utah - Senior guard Ryan Toolson set a new Utah Valley University NCAA Division I scoring record with 41 points in a 90-80 win against Montana Western (4-2) Tuesday night at the McKay Center. Utah Valley improved to 2-0 on the season with the win.
Toolson broke his own record of 38 points in a single game which he shared with current Utah Jazz guard Ronnie Price. He was 13-17 from the field, 4-5 from three-point land, and 11-13 from the free-throw line in the game. He also contributed four assists for the second game in a row and three steals.
Fellow senior captain Brett Ravenberg also set a career high with 10 rebounds in the game, seven of which were offensive. Freshman Solomon Jensen was the only other Wolverine in double figures with his career-high 10 points.
"That was a hard fought game," UVU head coach Dick Hunsaker said. "That team was scrappy, competitive, confident, and real. I give our kids all the credit in the world for battling, competing, and fighting. Western Montana hit some difficult shots and got to the free throw line 27 times in our gym. I couldn't be more complimentary of their effort or our effort. Obviously, Ryan Toolson gave a herculean effort, and Brett Ravenberg gave a herculean effort on the offensive boards."
Montana Western's Terry Hauser came out firing from behind the three-point line and knocked down three triples in the first ten minutes of the game. He made none in the following ten minutes and scored only five more points in the game. Toolson responded by scoring 22 points in the first half and 17 points in the final ten minutes of the period. He went 9-for-12 from the floor and 3-for-4 from behind the arc in the half.
At the half, the Wolverines had a 42-38 lead after three tied scores and three lead changes. Utah Valley shot 56.3 percent from the field in the half to Montana Western's 52 percent. The Wolverines were 3-for-3 from the free-throw line, and the Bulldogs were 7-for-8.
UVU extended its lead to as much as 15 points with 12:03 to go in the game. Toolson tied the record with his 38th point of the game on a free throw after missing his first of the season. He hit three more free throws down the stretch to reach the 41-point plateau. He is now 21-23 from the charity stripe on the season.
Both teams tightened up their defenses in the second half as UVU shot 37.5 percent from the floor and held UMW to a 41.4 field goal percentage in the half. Utah Valley evened the free throw numbers in the second half as each team ended up with 27 free throw attempts in the game. The Wolverines edged the Bulldogs by making 24 to the Bulldogs' 21.
Utah Valley will be back in action again Saturday in the McKay Center as they host Louisiana-Lafayette of the Sun Belt Conference. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
