Utah Valley basketball: Toolson nets 33 as Wolverines win 4th straight

SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Utah Valley men's basketball team (13-9) won its fourth game in a row on the shoulders of senior guard Ryan Toolson at Savannah State Saturday, 69-58, sweeping the season series.

Toolson had 33 points in the game and eight of the team's 10 in the final two minutes of the game. He was 13-for-13 from the line and 8-of-18 from the floor. He also brought down five rebounds. The first time these two teams met this season, Toolson was held to only five points.

"We did a good job of taking care of the ball and handling their pressure," UVU head coach Dick Hunsaker said. "I was pleased with the energy and the alertness we played with. Toolson remembered the five points he was held to and still felt the sting of the loss from last season here at Savannah State."

Senior guard Josh Olsen also had a big game, scoring 17 points and playing lock-down defense late in the game with four fouls. He was 4-of-5 from the floor and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line.

"Olsen's play in the second half was the difference in the game," Hunsaker said.

The Wolverines built up an 11-point lead in the first half but watched it dwindle and trailed by two at the half 34-36. Toolson changed the momentum back to UVU's favor early in the second half on a four-point play in which he drained a 3-pointer, got fouled and hit the free throw.

Savannah State trailed by nine with 7:33 left in the game but battled to get back to within one at 59-58 with 2:13 on the clock. Toolson then made two free-throws on the ensuing possession. The Wolverines got another stop, and Toolson hit a 16-foot jumper with a hand in his face to push the lead to five, 63-58, and ice the game for Utah Valley.

UVU outscored SSU 12-4 in the final 3:14 of the game, with 10 of those points coming at the free-throw line. The Wolverines also held the Tigers to only one field goal in the final 10 minutes of the game.