OREM, Utah (1/30/08) ? The Arkansas State men's basketball team (9-12) couldn't overcome a big first half by a hot-shooting Utah Valley State team (10-13), falling 72-57 Wednesday night at the McKay Center in its final non-conference game of the regular season.

The Wolverines shot 58 percent from the field and 77 percent from beyond the arc in the first half, while the Indians hit just 31 percent of their shots and fell behind by double-figures early in the game.  The Indians improved their shooting percentage to 54 percent in the second half and limited Utah Valley State to a .333 field goal percentage to get back in the game.

ASU started the second half with a 20-8 run to cut a 17-point halftime deficit down to five points, 48-43, with 12:54 left in the game.  However, ASU was held scoreless the next four minutes and Utah Valley State was able to extend its lead back to double-figures, 53-43, at the 7:43 mark.  The Wolverines held at least a 10-point lead over the game's final 6:01.

Shawn Morgan recorded his second career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Yima Chia-Kur scored a team-high 14 points and Mike Lance added 10 for the Indians.  Ryan Toolson scored 19 of his game-high 29 points in the first half to lead the Wolverines.  Richard Troyer added a career-high 22 points for Utah Valley State.

Utah Valley State built a 13-3 lead almost six minutes into the game and connected on six of its first nine shots, including all five of its three-field goal attempts, to grab a 22-12 lead almost midway through the first half.  The Wolverines held a double-figure lead the final 6:43 of the first half and scored the last seven points to take its largest lead of the game, 40-23, at halftime.

Arkansas State finished the game with a .415 field goal percentage to Utah Valley State's .444.  The Indians hit just 5-of-16 shots from downtown and the Wolverines made 9-of-25 shots from beyond the arc.  The Wolverines held a slight advantage on the boards, 33-32, and committed just six turnovers to ASU's 12.