Utah Valley stuns Rice, 85-79

HOUSTON, Texas – Four Wolverines scored in double digits and Utah Valley withstood a late Rice run before emerging with an 85-79 win in the Quarterfinals of the CBI presented by Five Four.

Utah Valley led 45-37 at the half and held onto the lead until Marcus Evans hit a jumper with 8:53 to play to give Rice a 67-66 lead. Rice grew the lead to four but back-to-back 3-pointers by Hayden Schenck, one at 5:05 and the other at 4:12, put the Wolverines up for good, 76-72.

Ivory Young led UVU with 20 points. Kenneth Ogbe posted 17 points and six rebounds, Jordan Poydras had 14 points, Conner Toolson added 12 points, Isaac Nielsen tallied seven points and nine rebounds, and Schenck ended the game with nine points.

The Owls were led by Egor Koulechov who had 14 points and seven rebounds. Evans put up 13 points and five boards, Marquez Letcher-Ellis scored 12 points, Connor Cashaw had 11 points and six rebounds, and Marcus Johnson and Andrew Drone netted 10 points each.