Sports briefs

UVU evens record at NDSU

The Utah Valley University men’s basketball team dropped to 8-8 on the year Tuesday after a 71-98 loss at North Dakota State (13-5). NDSU is the current leader of the Summit League.

Senior guard Ryan Toolson led the Wolverines with 27 points on the night and chipped in three rebounds and three assists. He was 9-for-19 from the field, 3-for-5 from downtown, and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Utah Valley as a team shot a perfect 13-for-13 from the stripe in the game. Junior forward Tyray Petty and sophomore center Justin Baker were also in double digits with 14 and 10 points, respectively.

“North Dakota State played sensational tonight,” UVU head coach Dick Hunsaker said. “They were hitting on all cylinders and frankly overpowered us. I was pleased that we kept fighting and competing, and played a much better second half.”

The Bison shot 58.2 percent from the field in the game (32-for-55) and recorded a 61.1 three-point percentage hitting 11-of-18 from behind the arc. NDSU was also 23-34 from the charity stripe in the contest and had made 18-of-25 free throws at the half. In contrast, UVU was only 4-for-4 from the line at the half.

Wolverines Perform Well in Logan

On Saturday Utah Valley University’s men’s and women’s track and field teams competed well at the Wilson Motor Invitational on the campus of Utah State University.

“It was a good meet for us today,” UVU head track coach Scott Houle said. “We have used the last two weeks to get us ready for the season and help gauge where we are at competition wise. Our kids are definitely progressing and will be ready to square off against some stiff competitors next week in Boise.”

Utah Valley’s sprinters finished very well in the women’s 60-meter dash, led by sophomore-transfer Jazmine Wittman who won the event with a blazing time of 7.82. Following right behind Wittman were her fellow running mates freshmen Natasha Martin (second), Amanda Morse (fourth), and Zandrea Nelson (sixth).

In the women’s one-mile run, Utah Valley placed second and third as freshmen Shelise Walker and Kalina Zufelt went two and three respectively. Also Wolverine freshman Nicole Knighton placed second in the women’s shot put with a throw of 43′-09.75″.

On the men’s side of things in the 60-meter dash UVU true-freshman Mike Fogt led the way as he finished in fifth place with an impressive time of 7.03. Utah Valley pole vaulter Levi Ball placed third in that event to lead the Wolverines with a vault of 15′-07″, as fellow freshman Jacob Hull placed fourth with a vault of 15′-01.25″. UVU freshman Ty Bunting placed fifth in the men’s shot put with a throw of 42′-11.00.