The Hive Sports

By Connor Dee

College basketball games, especially at the end of March, seem to be close ninety-nine percent of the time. This past Tuesday was no different. Las Vegas played host to two NIT semi-final games and both turned into instant classics. The first game saw a masterful defensive performance by North Texas in the second half. With 9:08 left to play, North Texas held Wisconsin to zero points till the buzzer sounded and pulled off the unthinkable 14-point comeback to win by two.

If you think it couldn’t get better than that, it did. Game two turned out to be an overtime thriller, with ebbs and flows and twists and turns, ultimately sending Utah Valley home packing with a historic season coming to an end.

The Utah Valley Wolverines started the game excited and sloppy. It’s easy for a team to get caught up in the moment. This was Utah Valley’s first-ever NIT semi-final and only the second time appearing in the NIT Tournament altogether. It’s hard to be on the big stage when you’ve never been there before, and before you could blink the Wolverines were down 11-2.

Their opponent, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, held strong the entire half. The Blazers inside out the game and hard nose press coverage kept Utah Valley on edge and overthinking. At halftime, the Wolverines were lucky to only be down four. Adjustments would have to be made at halftime if Utah Valley wanted their season to continue.

The Wolverines got the ball to start the half and immediately turned it over. UAB looked poised to completely take over the game, but with pure heart, Utah Valley just wouldn’t let them. With just under 17 minutes left to play, the big man, Aziz Bandaogo, buried just his fifth three of the season. The Blazer’s lead was cut to just three and the smell of a momentum shift was in the air.

But the momentum never did completely shift and UAB held strong even with the seven-footer electrifying the gym. The Blazers continued to maintain the lead, but with just under five minutes to play, it was Tim Fuller and Trey Woodbury who would not let their season die.

The senior point guard and junior forward scored only eight points for Utah Valley in the final five minutes. Just enough to open up the overtime door. It was Woodbury who swished the filthy floater in the lane to tie the game but make no mistake, Utah Valley would not even be in OT if it weren’t for Tim Fuller. Throughout the entire game, Fuller gave the energy and spark the Wolverines needed regardless of time or moment. He was the man for Utah Valley, finishing with 14 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks.

Overtime saw much of the same trends that were seen throughout the game: UAB jumped out quickly and Utah Valley tried clawing up from behind. This time, their efforts would come up short. With just 12 seconds to play, Jordan “Jelly” Walker stepped to the line to put the Blazers up four. He drilled both of them. A meaningless three and one made free throws later, and the game was over. UAB to the NIT Championship, 88-86.

When you look at the box score you could argue that Utah Valley had its best team performance of the season. All five starters scored 12 or more points, two of them had double-doubles, and every bench player that played scored. They played their hearts out, and yet it still was not enough. That seems to be the case in March more often than not.

There will be some big changes for Utah Valley this offseason, starting with their head coach. Mark Madsen, head coach of the program for four years, will be taking his talents to the head coaching position at Stanford University. Along with that, Trey Woodbury, Blaze Nield, and Tahj Small will all be graduating. In all likelihood, the success of the team will run through Aziz Bandaogo and his massive upside. Cherish this season Utah Valley fans, it was one for the records.