OREM — After a dramatic loss in the WAC final, Utah Valley returned home to defend one of the nation's longest home winning streaks in the first round of the NIT against George Washington.
The Wolverines, who trailed by as much as 16 points, fought all the way back but missed a game winning shot and fell to the Revolutionaries 79-78, ending their season.
Trevan Leonhardt hit his first shot of the game, a 33-foot 3-pointer which trimmed the lead to one, leading to a George Washington turnover and a chance for the Wolverines to win it.
Jackson Holcombe, who finished with 27 points, four rebounds and seven assists, had two opportunities but was blocked both times, and Utah Valley fell short.
"They are a really good team," head coach Todd Phillips said of George Washington. "Some coaches in the league told us 'you got a really bad draw' and their record is not vindictive of who they are."
"We got a great crowd tonight. We got them behind us and made a push down the stretch. You have to just make one more play," Phillips said.
A notable performance of the night was redshirt freshman Tyler Weaver who had 12 points, four rebounds and had three steals. Weaver's 18 minutes was the second most of his career along with his career high in points and steals.
Utah Valley opened with three 3-pointers, a bit uncharacteristic of the Wolverines but held a 13-12 lead nonetheless.
The Wolverines weren't the only ones firing from deep, George Washington was 3-of-6 from beyond the arc as they used it to elevate them to a 18-15 lead with 11:12 to play in the half.
George Washington continued to pressure, going on an 11-0 run to take a 25-15 lead before Noah Taitz cut the run with a 3-pointer.
Utah Valley made a fight back, sprouting a 6-0 run with freshman Tyler Weaver spearheading the spurt, but still trailed 34-27.
Heading into the half, George Washington closed on an 8-0 run and held a 45-32 lead with a chance to end the Wolverines 27-home winning streak.
Utah Valley narrowed its deficit, trimming the gap to eight as George Washington led 54-46 with 14:00 to go.
As it seemed like every time Utah Valley would get close, George Washington would silence any run the Wolverines would muster.
Yet the Wolverines kept pushing, as George Washington failed to score a basket over a three minute stretch, Utah Valley climbed back and trailed by six with over eight minutes to go.
With 4:50, the Wolverines took the lead. Weaver hit a contested 3-pointer in the corner, Sherman Weatherspoon forced a turnover, and Isaac Davis had a 4-point play off a missed free throw and Utah Valley was suddenly leading 67-66.
George Washington hit a huge 3-pointer to extend its lead to four points, but the Wolverines hit a pair of free throws to make it a one possession game.
Trevan Leonhardt hit his first bucket of the game, a 33-foot 3-pointer, to trim the Wolverines deficit to one with 36 seconds to go.
Utah Valley forced a turnover out of bounds eight seconds into the game clock, and had possession with a chance to take the lead and the win.
Holcombe was blocked twice and Utah Valley never got a shot on the rim and fell just short.
