Utah Valley Secures Nail-Biting 77-75 Win Over Murray State
Murray, Kentucky — In an exhilarating showdown at the CFSB Center, Utah Valley snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, defeating Murray State 77-75 on Friday night. Tanner Toolson’s crucial putback with only 0.8 seconds remaining propelled the Wolverines to a hard-fought win, marking just the fourth non-conference home loss for Murray State in the last seven seasons.
The Racers, boasting a formidable 30-3 (.909) home record in non-conference games prior to this contest, now fall to 3-2 for the season, while Utah Valley improves to 3-1. Utah Valley’s head coach, Todd Phillips, praised his team’s resilience. "Our guys faced adversity, made big runs, and responded every time," he stated, highlighting Toolson’s pivotal offensive rebound as a decisive moment of the game.
The thrilling conclusion unfolded with both teams tied at 71-71. Ethan Potter’s dunk gave Utah Valley a slight lead, followed by Dominick Nelson’s successful free throws extending the advantage to 75-71. However, Murray State’s Kylen Milton answered back with a four-point play, leveling the score at 75-75 moments later.
With the clock winding down, Nelson missed a potential game-winning shot, but Toolson was there to secure the rebound and score, sealing the victory for UVU. The Wolverines showcased impressive performances, particularly Carter Welling with a career-high 19 points and Dominick Nelson contributing 15.
Utah Valley dominated on the boards, out-rebounding Murray State 40-27, and scoring 46 points in the paint.
Looking ahead, the Wolverines will continue their road journey at the Samford Thanksgiving Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama, with games against West Georgia, Samford, and North Dakota State forthcoming, all available to stream on ESPN+.
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Photo credit gouvu.com
