Torched for most of the game by the outside shooting of Utah Valley State's David Heck, the Wildcats toughened up on defense down the stretch to hold off the Wolverines 69-62 at the Dee Events Center.

"That Heck kid gave us some problems," Weber State coach Joe Cravens said.

Quite a few of them, actually.

Heck scored a career-high 30 points and sank six three-pointers. The Wolverines trailed for nearly the entire game, but Heck got his team within striking distance at 45-44 midway through the second half.

But once the game got close, Weber State's defense stopped letting the sharp-shooting junior roam free. The Wildcats held Heck scoreless for more than five minutes, and Weber State's offense strung together some impressive possessions.

The Wildcats went on a 12-1 run to stretch their lead to 57-45. Brett Cox hit a three-pointer, Clint Burris converted a three-point play and Coric Riggs had an alley-oop slam dunk on three consecutive possessions to put the game away.

"Heck had a career night and it was all for naught," Utah Valley State coach Dick Hunsaker said.

If Heck would have had any help, the Wolverines may have completed a season sweep of the Wildcats. Utah Valley State routed the Wildcats by 19 points three weeks ago, but again pulled its Jekyll-and-Hyde act away from the McKay Center. The Wolverines dropped to 1-7 away from Orem, with five of their losses coming by double digits.

Weber State is also a team that appears to have adopted a new personality. The Wildcats have won three straight games to improve to 6-6. Improved shooting and the return of Terrell Stovall to the team's lineup has been the difference for the Wildcats.

Weber State shot 52.1 percent against Wolverines, which was its third consecutive game above 50 percent. Stovall, who missed a few games with an illness and wasn't at 100 percent on Wednesday with an ankle injury, scored 10 points and dished seven assists.

More importantly, he brought the team a tougher attitude than what it had the first time it faced the Wolverines.

"He brings us a sense of toughness that no one else can bring us in the same kind of way," Wildcats forward David Patten said.

Stovall also made his mark on the defensive end. He missed the first meeting between the two teams and Utah Valley guards Sylvester Allison and Chris Bailey combined for 25 points. But they were invisible on Wednesday, combining for nine points.

Riggs led Weber State offensively with 18 points and Patten had a career-high nine rebounds. As a team, the Wildcats had a 29-22 advantage on the boards.

"The right team won," Hunsaker said. "They outplayed us and they outhustled us.

Weber State 69, UVSC 62

* Utah Valley State's David Heck scored 30 points.

* Weber State shot better than 50 percent for the third consecutive game and won its third straight.

* Coric Riggs had 18 points for the Wildcats.