Orem • Brandon Randolph and Conner Toolson scored 20 points apiece as Utah Valley sprinted to an early lead and then held off UC Riverside for a 90-82 win on Thursday night.
Utah Valley (10-5) took a 54-36 advantage into halftime and led 63-46 with 15:04 left when UC Riverside (5-8) started to chip away at the lead. Dikymbe Martin scored seven straight to close to 77-72 at the 5:14 mark. James Jackson added a layup to trail 78-74.
Kenneth Ogbe, who finished with 19 points, answered with a layup and Isaac Neilson followed with a dunk as the Wolverines thwarted the rally.
Montana State 104, Southern Utah 99 • In Cedar City, the Thunderbirds fell to the Bobcats in the Big Sky opener for each team. Jadon Cohee led SUU (6-6)in scoring with 20 points and James McGee added 19. The Bobcats improved to 8-6.
Women’s basketball
BYU 72, Portland 58 • In Portland, Ore., Cassie Devashrayee scored 14 points to lead four Cougars in double figures in the WCC opener for each team.
Brenna Chase assed 12 points for BYU (6-6) and Amanda Wayment and Sara Hamson each scored 10. Portland is 4-8.
Montana State 91, Southern Utah 71 • In Bozeman, Mont., Breanu Reid scored 19 points to lead the Thunderbirds (1-11), who fell to the Bobcats (7-5) in their Big Sky opener.
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