ST. GEORGE — The Trailblazers hope to bang out a seventh consecutive victory in a replaying of the Old Hammer Rivalry.
The Utah Tech men’s basketball team renews its rivalry with in-state and Western Athletic Conference competitor Utah Valley University Saturday at 2 p.m. in Orem.
According to a press release, the contest at Utah Valley pits the two teams with the longest current winning streaks in the WAC against each other.
Thursday night’s 81-66 dismantling of University of Texas Rio Grande Valley was the sixth win in a row for the Trailblazers, who improved to 9-5 overall and 1-0 in the WAC.
Utah Valley counters with a seven-game winning streak. The Wolverines (10-4, 1-0) beat Sam Houston convincingly 80-64 in their first WAC game Thursday night.
UVU has also beaten in-state power Brigham Young University and PAC-12 stalwart Oregon during its winning streak.
Four of the Wolverines players average double-figure scoring, led by junior guard Justin Harmon and his 14.6 points per game.
Sophomore center Aziz Bandaogo averages a double-double, posting 10.9 points and a WAC-best 10 rebounds per contest. The 7-footer also leads the WAC in blocked shots with 37, good for fourth-best in the NCAA.
The Trailblazers built their win streak against NAIA opponents that were outmatched. Senior Jacob Nicolds told St. George News that the intensity level in WAC games is way more ratcheted up.
“We had those last four games that got us ready for the WAC,” Nicolds said after scoring 18 points in Utah Tech’s win against University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. “The WAC’s a totally different animal. Every game matters a lot more.”
Nicolds said the key to preparing for Saturday’s road game is to get healthy and execute a normal game plan.
“We have to be smart and kind of do our regular routine and come out ready to go right from the jump,” Nicolds said. “You come out flat in an away game, and it’s easy to get buried. You got to come out with energy.”
Utah Tech head coach Jon Judkins told St. George News after Thursday’s win that the hot Trailblazers are facing an even hotter Wolverines squad.
“Now we go play a really good team who just beat Sam Houston pretty good,” Judkins said. “They beat BYU, they beat Oregon and they are playing really, really well. We’ve got our hands full. We’re excited for the challenge, and we can’t wait to get up there.”
Utah Tech and Utah Valley tip off Saturday at 2 p.m. in Orem at the UCCU Events Center.
Listen to Voice of the Trailblazers Rod Zundel on the live broadcast stream at The Fan Sports Network.
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