Shawn Deadwiler scored a career-high 23 points Thursday as Utah Valley defeated South Dakota 86-68.
Deadwiler came into the game averaging 9.3 points per game for the Wolverines (8-10, 2-1 Great West). Eric Deardon added 11 points, while Tyray Petty and Aaron England had 10 apiece.
Tyler Cain had 20 points for South Dakota (9-9, 1-1), which hit only 14 of 30 free throws in the game. Utah Valley was 23 for 25 from the line.
Utah Valley trailed 19-12 with 10:45 remaining in the first half but then hit four straight 3-pointers in the next seven minutes en route to a 28-9 run that put the Wolverines on top 40-28.
The Coyotes pulled within 49-46 in the second half on a three-point play by Cain, but seven straight points by Jourdain Scoubes (including four on a rare four-point play) and four straight by Corey Claitt put Utah Valley back on top 60-48 with 11:56 left in the game.
