VINEYARD, Utah (Interstat) — In a game that lived up to its billing as a tense, back-and-forth affair, the Utah Valley Wolverines narrowly held off a persistent Idaho State Bengals squad 73-69 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at the UCCU Center.

A crowd of 1,423 saw the Wolverines improve to 7-3 on the season, while the Bengals fell to 6-5.

The contest was defined by runs and resilience, with neither team able to secure a comfortable lead. Utah Valley took a slim 36-32 advantage into halftime, but the second half unfolded as a series of mini-surges. Idaho State, led by the efficient interior play of Caleb Van De Griend, repeatedly clawed back from deficits. The Australian forward scored 16 points in just 16 minutes off the bench, providing a crucial spark for the Bengals.

However, Utah Valley’s offensive balance and key plays down the stretch proved decisive. Jackson Holcombe led all scorers with 18 points, while Isaac Davis matched that total, adding a physical presence inside. The orchestrator of the Wolverines’ attack was point guard Trevan Leonhardt, who dished out eight assists and controlled the tempo, particularly in the closing minutes.

The most critical sequence of the game occurred in the final 30 seconds with Utah Valley clinging to a 71-69 lead. Following a Utah Valley timeout, Idaho State’s Connor Hollenbeck, who finished with 17 points, missed a driving layup attempt with 20 seconds remaining. Trevan Leonhardt secured the defensive rebound for the Wolverines, forcing the Bengals to foul.

On the ensuing inbound play, Idaho State’s Lachlan Brewer was called for a foul on Noah Taitz, sending the Utah Valley guard to the line for a one-and-one opportunity with six seconds left. Taitz, who had 11 points, calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to 73-69. Idaho State’s last-gasp effort, a contested 3-point attempt by Hollenbeck as time expired, was off the mark, sealing the victory for the home team.

The final minutes underscored a game-long theme: Utah Valley’s ability to answer every Idaho State push. The Bengals’ Jamison Guerra facilitated the offense with six assists, and Van De Griend’s scoring punch kept them within striking distance. But crucial turnovers by Idaho State in the second half, including one by Hollenbeck with under a minute to play and his team down two, were converted into points by the Wolverines.

Utah Valley’s defensive presence was also pivotal, recording eight blocked shots as a team. Hayden Welling swatted four of those, altering numerous attempts in the paint.

The win was a return to form for Utah Valley after a road loss to San Diego State, while Idaho State saw a two-game winning streak snapped. The Bengals, however, demonstrated they could compete with a team that statistical models heavily favored, covering the pregame spread in the process.

Utah Valley now travels to face UC Santa Barbara on Saturday. Idaho State returns home to host Montana Tech next Thursday.