Le’Tre Darthard scored 16 points as Utah Valley extended the best start in program history, defeating host Washington 68-52 Tuesday night in a nonconference game in Seattle.
Fardaws Aimaq added his nation’s-best 10th double-double of the season with 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Wolverines (9-3), despite early foul trouble that limited him to two points in the first half. Teammates Tim Fuller and Tim Ceaser each scored 10 points.
Terrell Brown Jr. led the cold-shooting Huskies (5-5) with 23 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists. Emmitt Matthews Jr. added 10 points.
The Huskies shot just 35.2 percent from the field (19 of 54) and were 0 for 11 from 3-point range. They weren’t much better at the free-throw line, going 14 of 26.
The Huskies’ top 3-point shooter, Jamal Bey, missed the game while in the COVID-19 protocol, as were three of coach Mike Hopkins’ assistants.
After leading 30-27 at the half, the Wolverines scored the first five points of the second half.
Darthard’s 3-pointer with 13:04 remaining extended the lead to double digits at 45-35.
A steal at midcourt and breakaway dunk by Darthard with 7:49 left put the Wolverines up 54-39. The Huskies never got closer than nine points the rest of the way.
Utah Valley led 23-16 with 4:53 left in the first half before the Huskies went on a 9-0 run, with Brown scoring six points and Matthews adding three.
Trey Farrer’s layup off a fast break with 1:25 left broke a 25-all tie and Connor Harding made a 3-pointer with 34 seconds left to help Utah Valley to the lead at the half.
Coach Mark Madsen’s Wolverines shot 43.4 percent (23 of 53) for the game and were 8 of 22 from beyond the arc, with Darthard making 3 of 5.
Utah Valley had a 44-26 rebounding edge and had 12 assists to Washington’s two.
–Field Level Media