Kansas City
Utah Valley
Utah Valley Stifles 'Roos to Remain WAC Leaders, 66-48
1/23/2014 10:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball
(Orem, Utah) – Utah Valley proved why it was the top defensive team in the WAC on Thursday night, holding Kansas City to a season-low scoring the basketball, and taking a 66-48 victory to remain unbeaten in conference action.
The contest was a tight one for the first 27 minutes, but that's when UMKC (6-12, 3-3 WAC) went cold. After a three by Caleb Johnson with 13:10 on the clock cut the Utah Valley (11-7, 5-0 WAC) lead to 44-43, Kansas City didn't hit another field goal until the 1:44 mark. The Wolverines pushed their lead to as many as 21 during the stretch.
The 'Roos shot just 28 percent in the game, and 23 percent in the final half, while UVU hit 46 percent in the final period. The Wolverines also did damage on the glass, out-rebounding UMKC by a 50-35 margin, including 15 on the offensive end.
The opening half started well for UMKC, jumping out to a 12-10 advantage in the first 10 minutes, but Utah Valley used a 13-2 rally to go up by nine with 6:33 on the clock. Leading scorer Holton Hunsaker was the catalyst, hitting back-to-back three-pointers. Kansas City fought back to cut that lead to four on three occasions, but poor free throw shooting kept it from getting any closer. A three with 11 seconds left in the half sent UVU into the break with a 34-27 lead.
The second stanza saw Kansas City come out with some energy, cutting the score down to 36-34 in the first two minutes, capped by a Martez Harrison layup. Utah Valley moved it back to six points, but the 'Roos kept chipping away, and got it down to one on the Johnson three. Kansas City then forced a UVU turnover and had the ball with a chance to go ahead, but a blocked shot and a turnover for the 'Roos followed.
Hunsaker hit a three on the next possession, and that sparked a 22-2 run that spanned 10 minutes, virtually sealing the game.
Harrison led the 'Roos with 15 points, but went 4-of-15 from the floor and 5-of-11 from the line, while Johnson had a career-best 10 points. Fred Chatmon led the 'Roos on the glass with eight. Garrity Hayes paced UVU with 18 points, while Ben Aird posted a big second half and tallied 14. Hunsaker tallied 13 with a game-high six assists.
Kansas City will play on Saturday night at Bakersfield. Tip-off is set for 9:00 p.m. CT.
