Utah Valley storms back for program-best 6th straight conference win


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RIVERSIDE — After a historic 5-0 start to WAC play, Utah Valley looked to attempt something no team in program history has done before: win six straight in conference play.

Utah Valley, who has eight straight wins dating back to Dec. 18, traveled to Riverside, California, to take on California Baptist for the second time this season, this time on national television.

After being eliminated by the Lancers in last season's WAC Tournament, the Wolverines avenged their loss and secured a sixth consecutive conference win, defeating Cal Baptist 74-69.

After trailing by as much as 12 points, Utah Valley stormed back in the final 20 minutes by doubling its first-half point total with 49 second-half points.

It was another notable game for Dominick Nelson — he was named WAC Newcomer of the Week last week — by dropping 25 points, including a clutch and-one 3-pointer with just under five minutes to play.

After a hard collision with teammate Trevan Leonhardt, Nelson was questionable to return to the game. Despite that, Nelson dropped 17 points in the second half while playing with plugs in his nose to prevent bleeding for the entirety of the final 20 minutes.

Nelson said after the game he had a headache after the incident.

Tanner Toolson provided 13 points and five rebounds, while Carter Welling and Jackson Holcombe both finished with 11.

The Wolverines trailed 13-6 early in the first half, and trailed by at least 7 points for most of the half. After trailing 28-19 with seven minutes left, Utah Valley went on a crucial 6-0 run and held the Lancers scoreless for four minutes.

But Utah Valley collapsed in the final three minutes of the half, quickly allowing Cal Baptist to spurt a 9-0 run and went into the second half with a 12-point deficit.

The big caveat for Utah Valley's struggles was allowing Cal Baptist nine offensive rebounds, leading to seven second-chance points to the Wolverines four offensive rebounds. Utah Valley missed nine of their last 10 field goal attempts, which allowed Cal Baptist to pull away.

The Wolverines entered the second half with some fire, sprouting a 19-9 run to take a slim lead at 47-46.

Utah Valley held a 60-52 lead before Cal Baptist made a small comeback, trailing 62-61 with five minutes to play. At that moment, Nelson hit a circus and-one 3-pointer to give the Wolverines a 66-61 lead, and the team never looked back.

Utah Valley was outrebounded and outshot from beyond the arc, and managed to pull away with a 74-69 victory over the Lancers.

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