Allen scores 19, Utah holds off Utah Valley challenge 75-67

Dec 16, 2020, 02:47 am

SALT LAKE CITY -- — Timmy Allen scored 19 points, Branden Carlson added 14 with three dunks and four blocks and Utah survived a furious challenge from Utah Valley for a 75-67 victory on Tuesday night.

Utah Valley senior Evan Cole doubled his previous career high (16), pouring in 31 points on 12-for-16 shooting and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the Wolverines challenge. It was his first double-double since 2018.

Rylan Jones and Alfonso Plummer each added 12 points for the Utes (3-1) who made 28 of 59 field goals (47%). Carlson, Allen and Jones each had two of Utah’s seven steals as the Utes harried Utah Valley into 20 turnovers, turning the mistakes into 26 points.

Utah Valley's 6-foot-11 Fardaws Aimaq was coming off a career-high 27 point, school-record 20-rebound double-double but Utah put the clamps on. Aimaq picked up two early fouls, played just eight minutes of the first half and was scoreless at the break.

Aimaq finished with seven points and nine rebounds. Trey Woodbury added 10 points and eight assists but turned the ball over six times.

Carlson blocked Aimaq with 10 seconds left to ice the win.

Cole scored seven of UVU's first 10 points, and whittled a 15-point Utah lead to 6888-63 with eight straight points.

Though just 40 miles apart on Interstate 15, the schools had played just twice previously.

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