OREM, Utah-Wednesday, Utah Valley men’s basketball (9-13, 3-4 in WAC play) hosts California Baptist (14-6, 4-2 in WAC play) at the UCCU Center.
First-year head coach Mark Madsen (9-13, .409) seeks to get the Wolverines to .500 play in this home tilt against the Lancers.
UVU scores 69.3 points per game as the Wolverines rank 246th nationally in scoring offense.
Junior guard Isaiah White leads UVU in scoring (14 points per game) and rebounding (9.1 boards per contest).
Senior guard TJ Washington (13.8 points per game, a team-best 21 steals), redshirt junior guard Brandon Averette (11.9 points per game, tied for a team-best 65 assists with Washington) and redshirt junior guard/forward Casdon Jardine (10.4 points, 5 rebounds per game) all score in double figures on-average as well for the Wolverines.
Senior forward Emmanuel Olojakpoke has a team-best 63 blocks, ranking him sixth nationally. His 2.86 blocked shots per game rank him 13th nationally. By virtue of his talents, the Wolverines have 122 blocks on the season, tying them for 6th nationally with Duke. UVU ranks 15th nationally in blocked shots per game with 5.5 swats per contest.
The Wolverines surrender 70.1 points per contest as they rank 205th nationally in scoring defense.
California Baptist is coached by Rick Croy (162-50, .764) who is in his seventh season at the helm of the Lancers’ program.
California Baptist scores 80.2 points per game as they are tied for 17th nationally in scoring offense with Iowa.
Junior guard Milan Acquaah leads the Lancers in scoring (18 points per game), assists (120) and steals (20).
Redshirt junior guard Ferron Flavors Jr. (14.4 points per game) and redshirt senior guard Brandon Boyd (11.2 points per game) also score in double figures on-average for the Lancers.
Senior forward De’jon Davis leads California Baptist on the glass with 8.6 rebounds per game. Redshirt senior center Zach Pirog has 30 blocked shots on the season to pace the Lancers.
California Baptist is tied for 190th nationally in scoring defense with Maine, surrendering 69.5 points per game.
The Wolverines lead the Lancers 2-0 all-time.
