The Dixie State Trailblazers and the Utah Valley Wolverines meet in college basketball action from the UCCU Center on Saturday afternoon.
The Dixie State Trailblazers will look to rebound from a 64-50 loss at the hands of Abilene Christian last time out. Cameron Gooden leads the Trailblazers in scoring with 13.8 PPG along with 4 RPG and 3.7 APG while Hunter Schofield has 13.4 PPG with a team-high 5.3 RPG to lead Dixie State on the glass as the only other double-digit scorer for Dixie State on the year. Dancell Leter and Frank Staine each have 9+ PPG while Brock Gilbert has a team-high 4.4 APG to lead the Trailblazers in assists. As a team, Dixie State is averaging 78.1 PPG on 44.9% shooting from the field, 35.2% from three and 71.8% from the foul line while allowing 75.3 PPG on 44.8% shooting from the field and 33.2% from three this season.
The Utah Valley Wolverines will try to build on a 77-55 win over Tarleton State last time out. Fardaws Almaq leads the Wolverines in scoring and rebounding, averaging a double-double per game with 19.6 PPG and 13.6 RPG while Justin Harmon has 12.1 PPG with 4.3 RPG and Connor Harding and Le’Tre Darthard each have 10+ PPG to make up the group of double-digit scorers for Utah Valley so far this season. Blaze Nield also has 8.8 PPG with a team-high 5.1 APG to lead the Wolverines in the assist department as well this season. As a team, Utah Valley is averaging 75.7 PPG on 46.7% shooting from the field, 36.5% from three and 72.9% from the foul line while allowing 64.5 PPG on 38.5% shooting from the field and 28.1% from three this season.
Dixie State is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games against a team with a winning record and 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games following a loss while the over is 5-1 in their last 6 games following a loss. Utah Valley is 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games following a win and 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games overall while the over is 5-1 in their last 6 home games.
I get the case to be made for the points in certain spots, but I just don’t think that the Trailblazers have an answer for what Utah Valley brings to the table, including the likes of Fardaws Almaq. I think this is a spot where the Wolverines win by 15+, so I’ll lay the points with Utah Valley here.