Ben Aird scored 18 points and Nick Thompson posted his first career double-double as Utah Valley used a big second-half run to pull away from North Carolina A&T 64-55 Monday night.
Thompson had 13 points and 14 boards for the Wolverines (1-1), who led by as many as nine in the first half.
The Aggies (1-1) took their only lead at 36-34 on a Jean Louisme jumper with 15:45 left, then Utah Valley used a 9-0 spurt to pull ahead for good.
Aird, a first-team preseason All-Great West Conference selection, scored 10 of his points, all on layups, in the second half.
North Carolina A&T, which scored only one point in a stretch lasting nearly six minutes, could get no closer than five the rest of the way.
Holton Hunsaker added 11 points for the Wolverines.
Lamont Middleton led the Aggies with 23 points, hitting 11 of 12 free throws.
