Jan. 8, 2008

Box Score

BEAUMONT, Texas - A big Lamar second-half run erased a Utah Valley lead as the Cardinals edged the Wolverines, 74-69.

Ryan Toolson broke his own school record as he hit eight three-pointers as the junior guard scored a game-high 32 points.

"I was pleased with some individual efforts," UV head coach Dick Hunsaker said. "I thought we fought hard. Give Lamar credit. They turned it up when they needed to down the stretch."

Utah Valley jumped out to a quick 9-3 lead after hitting four of its first five shots. The Wolverines had three different players hit their first four shots. Lamar came back with a 6-0 run of its own to tie the game at nine with 13:15 remaining in the half.

The two teams played evenly throughout the middle of the first half with the Cardinals maintaining an edge from the eight-minute mark until the four-minute point in the period. With the game tied at 30, the Wolverines went on a 12-5 run over the final 3:45 of the first half to take a seven point advantage to the break.

Utah Valley shot a red-hot 67 percent from the field in the first half with Toolson leading the Wolverines with 19 first-half points including five three-pointers.

UV stayed on fire to start the second half as the Wolverines extended their lead to 14 at 60-46 12:30 left in the game. Utah Valley hit several contested shots to build its lead. With the Wolverines leading 62-51, the Cardinals went on a 18-2 run to take a 69-64 lead with 2:50 left in the game. The lead held up for Lamar.

The Wolverines will have their first game against a Division I independent as they will travel to Chicago State to take on the Cougars next Saturday. Tip off for that game is slated for 3:30 p.m. (MT)