Who | Utah Tech (7-10, 3-3 WAC) at Utah Valley (8-10, 3-4 WAC)
When | Saturday, Jan. 20 / 2 p.m.
Where | UCCU Center / Orem, Utah
Broadcast | ESPN+ / 99.5 The Fan Sports Network
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UniteTheFamily / #IntoTheStorm
 
Scouting Utah Valley
Though UVU holds a 4-3 advantage in the all-time series, Saturday's game is the second time in the 2023-24 season that Utah Tech and Utah Valley have matched up, the first of which finished as a 65-53 Trailblazer victory at Burns Arena. Noa Gonsalves led the way with 18 points as Beon Riley (17 points, 13 rebounds) and Tanner Christensen (10 points, four rebounds) contributed to a 20-45 (44.4%) effort from the floor.
 
This season, UVU is 8-10 and has fallen in its last three games, most recently a 78-65 loss on the road at Grand Canyon. Drake Allen's 12.1 points per game leads a Wolverine offense that's averaging 68.2 points a game, while Caleb Stone-Carrawell is close behind at 11.7; Utah State transfer Trevin Dorius leads the team in rebounding (7.6) while blocking 1.4 shots per game.
 
Last Game
Cedar City played host to the Trailblazers' last game, as Utah Tech fell 75-65 to rivals Southern Utah at the America First Event Center. Despite jumping out to an early lead and keeping the game close most of the way, a late surge by the hosts sealed the result; four players finished in double-figures for scoring while Utah Tech dominated the paint with a 36-22 advantage in points scored down low.
 
All-Around Effort
Jaylen Searles put up a team-leading 13 points against the Thunderbirds, shooting 4-11 from the field and 1-2 from deep across 33 minutes played. Also adding seven rebounds, one assist, one block and two steals, Thursday's performance was the seventh double-digit scoring performance of the season for Utah Tech's 6-8 forward. Last time Utah Tech played UVU, Searles grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds and enters Saturday's game shooting 37.9% from deep.
 
Super Stearman
In an extended run of play, Caleb Stearman had arguably his best game as a Trailblazer on Thursday, finishing with a line of 10 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals in 21 minutes played. He set new career-best marks for points, assists, steals and minutes while the rebounding total tied a career-best total that was set against Washington State on Nov. 24.
 
Now in his second season as a Trailblazer, the 6-7 Arizona native has made 15 appearances this season and is averaging 7.8 minutes played while shooting 50% from three-point range and 80% at the line.
 
First Five
Unisa Turay was rewarded with the first start of his Utah Tech career on Thursday, finishing with a line of four points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals. Despite having played primarily in a reserve role across his previous 15 appearances, Turay has been a consistent member of the Trailblazer rotation this season and finished with three points the last time Utah Tech played against UVU.
 
Shot Blocker
Making his third start of the season, Hamed Olayinka continued to prove why he's among the WAC's top rim protectors against the Thunderbirds. Though foul trouble limited him to 20 minutes of game time, Utah Tech's 6-9 forward swatted four shots, which was his third three-plus block performance in the team's last four games and sixth on the season. The performance also put him back in the team-lead for blocked shots this year with 32, surpassing Tanner Christensen (30).
 
Ball Movement
The ball has been moving early and often for Utah Tech within recent games, as Thursday's game at SUU saw Utah Tech finish with 14 assists on 24 made baskets, the fourth time in five games that UT has finished with at least 13 assists in a game.
 
Bench Action
With several key players in foul trouble against Southern Utah, Head Coach Jon Judkins had to go deep into his bench on Thursday, and that culminated in 10 different players featuring for Utah Tech. Stearman (21) and Aric Demings (19) led the bench in minutes played as Angelo Kambala (17) was joined by Tennessee Rainwater (eight) and Trey Hall (seven) as reserves who saw time against SUU.
 
Aggressive Defense
Utah Tech forced 18 Thunderbird turnovers on Thursday, tying for the second-highest total in a single game this season. Four different players finished with two or more steals as the Trailblazers finished with 10, the team's fifth 10-plus steal performance this season and third in UT's last four games.
 
What's Next
The road stretch continues next week as Utah Tech will be in Texas games against Abilene Christian (Jan. 25, 6 p.m. MT) and Tarleton State (Jan. 27, 6 p.m.).