Feb. 24, 2007

Box Score

NEWARK, NJ - Ryan Toolson and David Heck combined for 32 points, leading hot-shooting Utah Valley State past New Jersey Institute of Technology, 77-47, in a Division I Independent men's basketball matchup Saturday afternoon in the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center.

Toolson, a sophomore guard, came off the bench for a game-high 17 points, while Heck, a senior forward, added 15 points for the Wolverines, who made their first 12 shots from the field. Toolson and Heck each finished the game shooting 6-for-7 from the field.

Nine of those first 12 baskets were assisted, as the visitors used outstanding passing to get open shots, which they converted for baskets. In all, 20 of the Wolverines' 29 field goals were assisted.

Utah Valley, 21-7 overall, has won eight in a row, 11 of its last 12. The Wolverines have won 15 of the last 17 going back to December 22.

NJIT got 12 points from redshirt freshman guard Mike Manning, while senior forward Marc Milbourne Swan came off the bench for 10 points and a game-high 7 rebounds.

Manning, who was hampered by injury earlier in the season, has come on strong in the six games since February 3, twice scoring his career-high 13 points and now getting a team-leading 12 on Saturday. An excellent passer, Manning led NJIT with four assists against the Wolverines.

Milbourne Swan, a fifth-year senior who is winding down his playing career, was tenacious throughout the game.

Utah Valley, which led, 30-11, before its first miss of the game at the 10:03 mark of the first half, finished with a field goal percentage of 67.4 (29-for-43), including 9-for-12 on three-point tries.

In the first half, after which the Wolverines led, 41-16, they shot 16-for-22 from the field (72.7 percent), 6-for-7 on threes and 3-for-3 at the foul line. Heck, who made all four of his shots, including three three-pointers, led all scorers at the break, with 11 points.

The Highlanders will play their final home game of the season on Monday night at 7 pm, when they host Texas-Pan American in the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center.

Monday's game will mark the final home contests for Milbourne Swan and Clayton Barker, the Highlanders' senior co-captains. Barker, who has not played since sustaining an injury early in the game on February 10, is sixth on the NJIT career scoring list, with 1,617 points. Milbourne Swan, with 1,174 points, is 14th all-time. They will be recognized in pregame ceremonies Monday night.