Orem, Utah - After picking up their first win of the season earlier in the week, the Thunderbird men's basketball team kept the momentum rolling on Saturday night with a victory over in-state opponent Utah Valley University 68–54.

The victory inside the UCCU Center leaves the Thunderbirds with a 2–5 record.

Before the first timeout was even called in the contest the T-Birds had been whistled for five fouls, including two against starting guard Trey Kennedy sending him to the bench. The Wolverines took advantage, going on an early 7–0 run. UVU's first 12 points were all scored by Marcel Davis giving them an early cushion.

Trailing midway through the first half the T-Birds went on a long six minute scoring drought, but that was snapped by a Kennedy layup which pulled the team within six. Neither team shot particularly well down the stretch of the first half, but a nice 5–0 run by the Thunderbirds closed the gap at the end of the first 20 minute period, however the Wolverines took a 26–22 lead at the break.

"Utah Valley played harder than we did to start the game, but once we matched their effort and energy we stayed in the game,” SUU head coach Nick Robinson said.

Davis scored 18 points in the first half for UVU, while SUU's leading scorer at the break was Casey Oliverson with seven.

SUU shot 35 percent from the field in the first half and the Wolverines shot just slightly better at 37 percent.

The Thunderbirds evened up the score at 29–29 early in the second half, but the Wolverines were quick to respond with a triple. As the second half continued on, the tempo picked up and so did the scoring.

SUU took the lead with 7:38 to play with a Casey Oliverson basket which put them up 46–45. That was the first lead the T-Birds had since they were up 2–0. The two teams would trade baskets but down the stretch the T-Birds went on a 6–0 run, and clutch free throw shooting gave the Thunderbirds the 68–54 victory. SUU's last 13 points in the game all came from the free throw line.

SUU held UVU to a season low scoring output, and held UVU's leading scorer Konner Frey scoreless. Coming into the contest Frey was averaging over 17 points a game.

James McGee led the Thunderbirds in scoring, putting up a career-high 24 points with three makes from behind the three-point line and an 11-of-11 mark from the free throw stripe. Oliverson finished with 13 points and Travon Langston and Kennedy both dropped in nine.  

Even though they had good production offensively, Robinson said there are a few things they need to tighten up.

"We did a better job of playing inside-out tonight, but we still need to improve on making each other better offensively."

Davis also finished the game with a career high, scoring 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field. He was the only Wolverine to finishing in double-digit scoring, with their next leading scorer finishing with seven.

"It's great for our team to experience a close game on the road where we come away with a victory,” Robinson said about coming out on top.

The Thunderbirds next contest is a week away, as they will host Bristol University at 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 12th. That game will be part of a men's and women's home double-header inside the Centrum Arena.