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OREM — Perhaps the most enigmatic team in college basketball added another argument to the label Tuesday night.
Fardaws Aimaq totaled 15 points and 15 rebounds for his nation-leading 10th double-double of the season to lead Utah Valley to a 68-52 win over Washington in their nonconference road finale Tuesday night at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle.
Le'Tre Darthard led the Wolverines (9-3) with 16 points, and Tim Fuller and Tim Ceaser each scored 10 for Utah Valley. Blaze Nield dished out a team-high five assists for the Wolverines, and fellow BYU transfer Connor Harding added 5 points, three rebounds and three assists.
The win over Washington marks just the third victory over a Power Six conference team in in the Wolverines' Division I history, the first since a road win over Oregon State in 2010, and the first time holding an opponent without a 3-pointer since 2007.
"I was really proud of our guys," Utah Valley coach Mark Madsen said. "We've had a lot of guys that have been battling illness and for our guys to go out there and battle. I was really proud of our guys, gutted it out and got it done. It's easy to coach when you have great players and I'm happy for our players."
Terrell Brown Jr. poured in a game-high 23 points to lead Washington (5-5), which got 10 points from Emmitt Matthews Jr. The rest of the Huskies' active lineup — eight players in all — scored a combined 19 points, including 7 from PJ Fuller.
The Wolverines wrap up nonconference play with a 9-3 record that includes a historic 72-65 overtime win over then-No. 12 BYU, the first victory over a ranked opponent inside the UCCU Center, as well as Tuesday's victory over the Huskies. It's the best 12-game start to a season in school history for the Wolverines, who are undefeated in overtime games — a perfect 4-0 — but also count road losses to Southern Utah and Wyoming and have played two non-Division I opponents in nonconference play.
Utah Valley came in at No. 82 in Monday's latest edition of the NCAA's NET ratings, which ranks third in the Western Athletic Conference behind No. 71 Grand Canyon and No. 76 New Mexico State.
UVU opens WAC play next Thursday, Dec. 30 against conference newcomer Abilene Christian in Orem. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT on ESPN+ for the first of three consecutive home games, including Jan. 8 against in-state rival Dixie State.
ALLY OOPSSS#SCtop10pic.twitter.com/l7NXW5HfIZ
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 22, 2021
Utah State 81, Portland State 62
At Logan, Justin Bean posted his eighth double-double of the season and 34th of his career with 29 points and 12 rebounds as the Aggies pulled away from the Vikings at the Dee Glenn Smith Spectrum.
Max Shulga had a career-high 18 points and a season-best seven rebounds in 28 minutes for the Aggies, who got 9 points, nine rebounds and seven assists from Brandon Horvath.
"Big win tonight going into the game not having Brock (Miller) available and not having RJ (Eytle-Rock) available, two starters," said Utah State coach Ryan Odom, who called Shulga 'awesome.' "We were worried about Bean potentially playing in the game as well. He played in the Iowa game, and he probably shouldn't have played in that game, but he wanted to play and gave it up for his team. He feels better now, thankfully. He didn't practice for two days and that probably helped him a bit.
"(Athletic trainer) Leah (Dunagan) worked on his ankle, it did swell up quite a bit after the Iowa game. But you wouldn't have known it watching him out there today, 29 (points) and 12 (rebounds). Obviously, he had the 3-ball rolling but he still made shots in and around the basket and was really effective and huge for our team, so obviously a tremendous plus that he was able to play."
Utah State opens Mountain West play next Wednesday, Dec. 29 at Air Force. Tipoff from Clune Arena is scheduled for 1 p.m. MST.
All gas ⛽️ @shayleegonzalespic.twitter.com/pO8kG6OGF0
— BYU Women's Hoops (@byuwbb) December 22, 2021
Women's basketball
Shaylee Gonzales poured in a game-high 21 points with five rebounds, five assists and four steals, and Lauren Gustin notched her fifth double-double of the season with 15 points and 18 rebounds to help No. 19 BYU close out nonconference play with an 89-67 road win Tuesday night over Montana State.
Tegan Graham added 10 points for the Cougars, who opened up at 10-1 before turning to West Coast Conference play, where they are the preseason favorites.
"We scheduled really hard this non-conference season," head coach Jeff Judkins said. "We played a lot of games on the road and a lot of tough games. It will help us prepare for the conference. I think it's been a really good effort. Tonight was different people stepping up. Every night it can be someone different. That's what makes a good team."
The Cougars outscored the Bobcats 44-28 in the paint and totaled 23 points off turnovers, with 23 assists to just nine turnovers and a cool 45% from the field.
BYU opens WCC play next Thursday, Dec. 30 against San Diego. Tipoff from Provo is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT on BYUtv.
