Toolson drops career-high 26 points as Utah Valley fends off late Utah Tech surge

OREM — Utah Valley guard Tanner Toolson said the Wolverines were "one step away" in the team's loss at Grand Canyon Thursday.

The redshirt freshman took it on himself to make sure the Wolverines took that next step.

Toolson led the way Saturday with a career-high 26 points, while adding seven rebounds; and the Wolverines (9-10, 4-4 WAC) pulled away for an 84-71 victory over in-state rival Utah Tech (7-10, 3-4 WAC) in front of 2,801 fans at the UCCU Center. With the win, the Wolverines are now tied for fourth place in the WAC with UT Arlington, who lost at Abilene Christian earlier Saturday.

"We needed a win," Toolson said. "This is just hopefully a start to what we can do going forward."

The Wolverines were coming off a 13-point loss Thursday at Grand Canyon, in which Utah Valley was doomed by 28% shooting in the first half. On Saturday, the Wolverines shot 50% in the first half against the Trailblazers, including 55% from 3-point range.

Utah Valley head coach Todd Phillips applauded his players for the response they gave after Thursday's loss.

"We came off an emotional game at Grand Canyon on Thursday night, and coming back and getting another win at home is great," he said.

Coming back is exactly what the Trailblazers almost did. Down 50-31 in the second half, Utah Tech cut the lead to 8 with under four minutes left.

"We were up big and could have blown them out," Phillips said. "Credit Utah Tech; they're a really good team."

Trailblazers head coach Jon Judkins said that while he was proud of his team for fighting back, they are still making the same mistakes.

"The second half we played better, but if you give a team this good a 19-point lead at home it's pretty tough to come back," Judkins said.

Utah Tech committed 19 turnovers in the game, leading to 13 Wolverines points — the final margin of the game.

"We'll learn and we'll get better," Judkins said.

The Wolverines are certainly looking better; guard Drake Allen added 16 points with six steals and five rebounds, and forward Caleb Stone-Carrawell added 13 more, plus four assists.

Toolson said the ability for anyone to have a big night is huge for the team.

"It takes a lot of pressure off each other, and we can play well together," he said. "When we play like that, we're hard to beat."

The tests don't get any easier, as the Wolverines head out on the road following their bye week to take on the Seattle Redhawks Friday (7 p.m. MST, ESPNU).

Phillips, though, said he relishes the thought of the challenges lying ahead.

"If we can steal a couple on the road, we will be right there at the end of the season," he said.

Related topics