Southern California teams are not kind to UVSC

OREM — The Utah Valley State men's basketball team had a tough go in Southern California in losing both of its games last week.

Ryan Toolson continues to lead the the Wolverines (3-6) in scoring as he averaged 21.5 points per game in the defeats. His teammates, though, aren't able to create shots of their own as Toolson is nearly doubling the field-goal attempts of his closest teammates.

UVSC came close against Cal State Northridge on Dec. 5 before falling 76-64. The Wolverines and the Matadors traded runs as UVSC closed the gap to three points midway through the second half before Cal State Northridge went on a 12-1 run.

But the Wolverines went on a 10-point run of their own to close the gap to four points with the score 62-58 late in the game. Unfortunately for UVSC, Cal State Northridge answered every Wolverine attempt to come back down the stretch in holding on for the win.

UC Santa Barbara was up next on Dec. 7 and the Gauchos cruised to an 81-61 win. Toolson scored 25 to lead the Wolverines.

The closest UVSC would get was being down 31-28 with 3:10 left in the first half before the Gauchos pulled away.

Next up for the Wolverines is a return matchup with Boise State at home at 7 p.m. The UVSC will look for revenge after losing to the Broncos in overtime 73-72 back in November in their season-opener.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: UVSC (8-2) lost its first two games of the season last week.

Cold shooting led to both defeats as UVSC shot 39.7 percent from the field against Montana State and 29 percent against BYU — both season-lows.

In a 79-69 defeat at Montana State Dec. 5, the Wolverines held a five-point lead with just over 10 minutes left in the game before the Bobcats took the game over using a 12-0 run.

Julie McMurray led UVSC with 18 points and Robyn Fairbanks had yet another double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Fairbanks and McMurray led the team in the 72-52 loss to BYU on Saturday. Fairbanks scored 22, while McMurray had 20 points.

ICE HOCKEY: The hockey team (16-5-3) split a pair of games last weekend.

UVSC lost 6-2 at Utah State on Dec. 7. The Wolverines came back strong the next night against Weber State's Division I team by beating them on UVSC's home ice 4-2.

Seth Armitage, Mike Dauglis, Chris Glen and Jeremy Martin scored for the Wolverines. David Wyman helped out by adding two assists. Colin Stebner saved 31 shots in goal for UVSC.

On tap

MEN'S BASKETBALL: vs. Boise State tonight at 7 p.m.; at Southern Utah on Saturday.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: vs. Portland on Saturday at 3 p.m.; at Duke on Tuesday.

WRESTLING: at UC Davis on Saturday; at Reno (Nev.) Tournament of Champions on Wednesday.