VINEYARD, Utah (Interstat) — Jackson Holcombe scored 23 points and Utah Valley used a dominant performance in the paint to pull away from Southern Utah for an 89-72 victory in a Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at the UCCU Center.

The Wolverines improved to 13-4 overall and bounced back from a conference road loss their last time out. The Thunderbirds dropped their fourth straight game to fall to 4-12.

The game’s decisive stretch came early, as Utah Valley established its interior superiority from the opening tip. The Wolverines scored the game’s first eight points, all on layups, setting a tone that would persist for all 40 minutes. Southern Utah, despite a respectable shooting night from beyond the arc, could never consistently counter Utah Valley’s relentless attack near the basket.

Utah Valley finished with a staggering 56 points in the paint, more than doubling Southern Utah’s output of 26. That advantage was fueled by a 16-8 edge in offensive rebounds, which led to numerous second-chance opportunities. The Wolverines shot 54.5% from the field overall, while the Thunderbirds were held to 41.7%.

Holcombe, a 6-foot-7 forward from Charleston, South Carolina, was the catalyst, adding five assists in 30 minutes. His efficiency inside helped Utah Valley build a 46-39 halftime lead. The Wolverines then opened the second half on a 13-4 run to extend their advantage to 59-43 with just over 14 minutes remaining, effectively putting the game out of reach.

Southern Utah, which entered the game as a heavy underdog according to national projections, never got closer than 12 points the rest of the way. The Thunderbirds were led by Jalen Lee with 15 points and Jaiden Feroah with 14 points and five assists. Dylan Jones added 13 points for Southern Utah.

While the Thunderbirds connected on 11 of 23 three-point attempts, their offense struggled with efficiency, committing 13 turnovers and managing only eight assists. Utah Valley also shared the ball sparingly with seven assists, but its offensive success was built more on individual execution in the post and in transition, where it held a 15-7 fastbreak points advantage.

Tyler Hendricks supported Holcombe with 14 points for Utah Valley, while Noah Taitz contributed 11. Isaac Hawkins provided a strong interior presence off the bench with 10 points and two blocks in just 14 minutes.

The attendance was 1,872.

Southern Utah looks to snap its skid on Saturday when it travels to face California Baptist. Utah Valley returns to action at home Saturday against Utah Tech. The two teams will meet again in Cedar City on Jan. 21.

The most important part of the game was Utah Valley’s immediate and sustained establishment of paint dominance. From the opening possession, the Wolverines attacked the rim, scoring their first eight points on layups and forcing Southern Utah into a reactive posture. This early physical and tactical advantage allowed Utah Valley to control the game’s tempo, build a lead it would never relinquish, and ultimately overwhelm a Thunderbirds team that could not match that interior production despite shooting well from the perimeter.