STEPHENVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — In a Western Athletic Conference opener defined by explosive individual performances and a relentless pace, Utah Valley held off a furious second-half rally from Tarleton State to secure a 91-85 victory on Thursday night at Wisdom Gym.

The Wolverines (12-3, 1-0 WAC) led for nearly the entire contest but could never fully shake the Texans (10-5, 0-1), who erased a 13-point second-half deficit behind a spectacular scoring display from guard Dior Johnson before Utah Valley sealed the game at the free-throw line in the final seconds.

Jackson Holcombe, Utah Valley’s 6-foot-7 forward from Charleston, South Carolina, delivered a pivotal all-around performance with 22 points, four assists and two blocks in 34 minutes, anchoring his team during critical stretches. His effort was part of a balanced and efficient offensive attack that saw the Wolverines shoot 54% from the field and dominate inside with 44 points in the paint.

Tarleton State’s comeback attempt was spearheaded almost single-handedly by Johnson. The 6-foot-3 guard from Kingston, New York, poured in 36 points, with 26 coming in the second half. He repeatedly attacked the basket and drew fouls, willing the Texans back into a game that seemed to be slipping away. Camron McDowell of Griffin, Georgia, provided crucial support with 26 points and three assists.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded over the final 90 seconds. After Johnson’s driving layup cut Utah Valley’s lead to 83-80 with 51 seconds remaining, the Wolverines’ composure at the foul line proved decisive. Trevan Leonhardt, who finished with 15 points and five assists, was fouled on the ensuing inbound play and calmly sank both free throws.

Johnson answered with a deep 3-pointer from the wing, assisted by Kade Douglas, to pull Tarleton within 85-83 with 29 seconds left. Leonhardt was again fouled immediately and converted both free throws. On the next possession, Johnson drove for a layup and was fouled, completing the three-point play to make it 87-85 with 22 seconds on the clock.

With the crowd of 987 in a frenzy, Utah Valley successfully inbounded to Leonhardt, who was fouled again. He made the first free throw but missed the second. However, Isaac Hawkins secured the offensive rebound for the Wolverines, a critical hustle play. Leonhardt was fouled once more and made both shots with 11 seconds left, extending the lead to 90-85 and effectively ending the contest. A final free throw by Braden Housley provided the final margin.

The game’s outcome hinged on Utah Valley’s ability to withstand Tarleton’s pressure and capitalize on its size advantage. While the Texans forced 18 Wolverine turnovers, converting them into 26 points, and held an 18-11 edge in fastbreak points, they could not overcome Utah Valley’s interior presence. Hawkins, a 6-foot-10 freshman from Fort Mill, South Carolina, was particularly efficient off the bench, scoring 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting in just 13 minutes. Hayden Welling added 15 points.

The first half set the tone for a back-and-forth battle. Utah Valley built its largest lead of the opening period at nine points, but Tarleton, led by Freddy Hicks’ 14 points, closed the gap to 43-40 by halftime. The Wolverines opened the second half with a 10-2 run, capped by a Tyler Hendricks 3-pointer, to take a 53-42 lead. Johnson then took over for the Texans, scoring 15 points during a 17-6 run that tied the game at 59-59 midway through the half.

Utah Valley responded with a 7-0 spurt, keyed by Holcombe and Hawkins, to regain control. The Wolverines maintained a two-possession cushion for much of the final eight minutes before Johnson’s late flurry set up the dramatic finish.

With the win, Utah Valley improves to 12-3 overall and begins WAC play with a key road victory. Tarleton State falls to 10-5. Both teams return to conference action on Saturday, with Utah Valley traveling to face Abilene Christian and Tarleton State hosting California Baptist.