ST. GEORGE, Utah (Interstat) — In a Western Athletic Conference clash defined by explosive scoring runs and a frantic final minute, the Utah Tech Trailblazers held off a furious second-half rally from Abilene Christian to secure an 85-81 victory on Thursday night at Burns Arena.

A season-high 24 points from junior guard Chance Trujillo, including several critical baskets down the stretch, propelled the Trailblazers to their 18th win of the season before a crowd of 2,274. The win improved Utah Tech to 18-12 overall and completed a regular-season sweep of the Wildcats, having also won in Abilene on Jan. 29.

The game’s pivotal sequence came in the final 90 seconds with Utah Tech clinging to a two-point lead. After Abilene Christian’s Bradyn Hubbard missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:34 remaining, the Trailblazers worked the clock before finding Trujillo cutting to the basket. He converted a difficult layup through contact with 2:01 left, pushing the lead to 80-76. On the ensuing possession, following a Utah Tech defensive stop, Jusaun Holt found Trujillo again for another layup, extending the advantage to 82-76 with just over a minute to play.

Those buckets capped a stellar night for Trujillo, who added four assists and was a catalyst throughout, particularly from beyond the arc. His backcourt mate, Ethan Potter, dominated the interior, scoring 25 points on efficient shooting, grabbing key defensive rebounds, and blocking two shots.

Abilene Christian, which fell to 13-15, was led by a spectacular 27-point performance from guard Chilaydrien Newton. The Wildcats trailed by as many as 12 in the first half and faced a 47-38 deficit at halftime after Utah Tech shot a blistering percentage from the field in the opening period.

The Wildcats refused to fade, opening the second half on a 9-2 run to close the gap. They chipped away relentlessly, with Hubbard contributing 23 points and Newton attacking the rim and hitting from deep. A Newton layup with 54 seconds left cut the Utah Tech lead to 82-81, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.

After Newton’s basket, the Wildcats were forced to foul. Holt made one of two free throws with 3 seconds left for an 83-81 edge. Abilene Christian called timeout to advance the ball, but on the inbounds play, Yaniel Rivera was fouled before the ball was inbounded. He made the first free throw to trim the lead to one but intentionally missed the second. Holt secured the crucial defensive rebound for Utah Tech and was fouled, sinking both free throws with 3 seconds remaining to seal the four-point victory.

Noah Bolanga provided vital support for Utah Tech with 12 points, while Holt filled the stat sheet with 15 points and six assists. For Abilene Christian, Rich Smith added eight points and four assists.

The game was a tale of two halves statistically. Utah Tech’s hot first-half shooting built a cushion that ultimately withstood Abilene Christian’s improved second-half defense and offensive push. The Trailblazers’ ability to answer every Wildcats run, particularly through the tandem of Potter inside and Trujillo outside, proved decisive.

The victory keeps Utah Tech in strong position heading into the final weekend of the regular season. They will travel to face in-state rival Southern Utah on Saturday. Abilene Christian looks to rebound quickly, heading to Orem to face Utah Valley also on Saturday.