Box score
OREM, UT—Utah Valley made nearly 60 percent of its shots, including 16 from three-point range, and outscored visiting NJIT by exactly 25 points in each half en route to an 89-39 win Saturday night.
The Wolverines, an excellent passing and shooting team, defeated NJIT, 61-40, in a much more competitive game that might accurately be described as “methodical” or “workmanlike” on February 12 in the Prudential Center
On that night, Utah Valley did not get great shooting throughout its lineup, but was able to execute it offensive sets for enough good shots and play strong defense in order to finish off the Highlanders.
In Saturday's rematch, the Wolverines, who play a halfcourt game and are comfortable running down the shot clock and probing to find the best shot, did just that. But they also put on a superb long-range shooting exhibition that went beyond getting good looks.
The end result was nearly 60 percent shooting from the field overall and 16-for-26 (61.5 percent) shooting from three-point distance, along with 7-for-8 free throw shooting. Utah Valley's 89 points were the most scored this season against NJIT.
After building a 43-18 lead after a first half that saw Utah Valley shoot 64 percent from the field (16-25), the Wolverines proceeded to make all five three-point tries in the first four minutes of the second half.
Utah Valley's 16 three-pointers were the most made against the Highlanders at the Division I level, topping the 13 made by Lafayette on December 4, 2006. In all, seven different Utah Valley players made three-point baskets in the game.
Senior guard Josh Olsen led all scorers with 21 points, making eight of his nine shots, including 4-for-5 on threes. Junior guard Tyray Petty (5-6 field goal shooting) added 15 points, while junior Jourdain Scoubes and senior Ryan Toolson each scored 14.
Ironically, Toolson, who is known as a superb shooter and came in averaging better than 24 points per game, made just less than half his shots overall (6-13) and was 2-for-7 on three-point tries, while the rest of the team was 14-for-19 (74 percent).
However, Toolson made up for falling 10 points short of his season average by dishing off 11 assists and sharing game rebound honors with his teammate, Petty, at eight. Toolson and Petty led UVU to a 38-17 team rebounding advantage.
NJIT had one double-figure scorer, junior captain Gary Garris, who finished with 11 points. Gary's younger brother, Justin Garris, led NJIT with four rebounds.
The Highlanders, who already were playing without backup guard Brendon Lyn, who sustained a concussion earlier this week at Texas-Pan American, lost junior center Dan Stonkus to an apparent concussion in the first half against Utah Valley.
Stonkus, who is one of two players, along with Gary Garris, to start all 29 games this season, was limited to five minutes action against Utah Valley.
The Highlanders, who have completed the away portion of their 2008-09 schedule, will close the season with a pair of home games in the coming week. Next up is a 7 pm game Monday in the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center against Texas-Pan American.
It will be the second game in a week between NJIT and Texas-Pan Am, which came from behind to behind the Highlanders, 60-53, last Monday.
