Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
OREM — The Wolverines' men's basketball team is streaking into the holiday break.
Trey Woodbury poured in a season-high 24 points to go along with nine rebounds and six assists as Utah Valley emerged from Matthew Knight Arena with a 77-72 upset win over Oregon for the Wolverines' sixth consecutive win on Tuesday night in Eugene, Oregon.
There's only one problem, Utah Valley coach Mark Madsen said cheekily after his team's win over a top-50 squad in KenPom pushed the Wolverines up to No. 103 in the predictive metric.
"I just hope that teams want to schedule us every year," he told ESPN radio in Utah County on his postgame show. "When we had (Texas Tech transfer Fardaws Aimaq), some of the contracts fell out. So I just hope teams want to keep playing us."
Whoever they play, the Wolverines are putting on a good show of basketball. Woodbury, the UNLV transfer from Las Vegas in his fourth season in Orem, got it started, but he wasn't alone in snapping the Ducks' three-game win streak.
Justin Harmon added 13 points, seven rebounds and a pair of assists for the Wolverines (9-4), who wrapped up nonconference play with wins over Long Beach State, BYU, Northern Arizona and now Oregon (7-6), to name a few. UVU hasn't lost since an 89-67 setback at Boise State on Nov. 26.
Trey Woodbury goes baseline and throws it down to give UVU a 32-22 lead!
— UVU Men's Basketball (@UVUmbb) December 21, 2022
Watch the game live on the @Pac12Networkpic.twitter.com/gS7kkIREOY
And they weren't about to do it Tuesday night in a buy game that few, if any, outside of the Wolverines' locker room expected to win.
But Utah Valley led for over 32 minutes, including a 41-24 advantage at halftime, and ended the half on an 11-2 run to take a lead it never relinquished. The Wolverines held Oregon to 35% shooting, including 3-of-19 from 3-point range, while canning eight 3-pointers of their own — one 3-pointer from Woodbury and two from Tim Cesar, who fouled out late with 13 points and five rebounds.
The visitors also overcame a tremendous effort from Will Richardson, who totaled a game-high 26 points, seven rebounds and four assists; and a Ducks squad that outrebounded Utah Valley 53-63 and limited the Wolverines to just eight offensive rebounds while scoring 23 second-chance points.
But Le'Tre Darthard added 9 points and four rebounds, and BYU transfer Blaze Nield had 7 points, three rebounds and two assists to pace a 26-9 disparity off the bench that helped UVU hold on down the stretch.
"I'm just so proud of my guys," said Madsen, noting a few key individuals like Darthard's corner 3-pointer late and the creative energy from redshirting players on the bench in the win.
Le'Tre Darthard with a big three from the corner.
— UVU Men's Basketball (@UVUmbb) December 21, 2022
Watch the game live on the @Pac12Networkpic.twitter.com/7dmmWFbUHq
"We've had some good wins in the nonconference," Madsen added. "Now a new season starts, and we're playing one of the best teams in the conference right away with Sam Houston coming in."
The Bearkats are 10-2, with nonconference road wins over Oklahoma and Utah to start the season. What's more, Sam Houston State will open Western Athletic Conference play next Thursday, Dec. 29 at Utah Valley — in the middle of the Wolverines' winter break, with students dispersed home from campus.
Two nights later, the Wolverines will host in-state rival Utah Tech.
Arguably the biggest home weekend of the conference schedule may come with little student interaction. Not to worry, Madsen said.
"We'll get out there in the community," he said. "The buzz is growing in the community; every time, there are more and more people coming in to make that environment special."
