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CHICAGO – Western Athletic Conference leading Utah Valley shot 50.9 percent from the floor to top Chicago State 79-70 on Thursday (Feb. 20) evening at the Jones Convocation Center.
The Cougars trailed by eight points with 2:45 left in the first half only to advance within a point at halftime (36-35) thanks to a seven straight points to finish the half. Senior
Matt Ross (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) scored five of the points.
The Cougars tied the game at 38 on a 3-pointer by senior
Quinton Pippen (Hamburg, Ark./Hamburg) a minute and a half into the second. Then eight consecutive points by Utah Valley, including one possession with three offensive boards by the Wolverines, put Utah Valley back up. Utah Valley grew their lead to as many as 11 before the Cougars made it a three-point contest with 6:21 remaining at 63-60. However each time the Cougars made a run, Utah Valley responded. The Wolverines put the game away with six straight points from the 4:22 mark to the 2:04 mark.
Utah Valley made 14-of-15 free throws in the second half with Holton Hunsaker hitting on 10-of-10. Hunsaker finished with 18 points, nine assists and a steal.
Both teams made 27 field goals and eight 3-pointers. However the difference was Utah Valley's 17 free throws and Chicago State's eight points from the line. Utah Valley limited the Cougars to 43.5 percent (27-of-62) shooting. Chicago State held a 38-26 edge in points in the paint.
Junior
Clarke Rosenberg (Skokie, Ill./Evanston Township) led the Cougars with 20 points and six rebounds. Pippen added 17 points. Ross totaled 12 points.
Utah Valley improves to 16-9 (10-2 WAC). The Cougars fall to 10-15 (5-6 WAC). Chicago State is under .500 in the WAC for the first time this season. The Cougars return to the court on Saturday (Feb. 22) at 2 p.m. against the Bakersfield Roadrunners.
