OREM — The Utah Valley State men's basketball team defeated visiting Albany 73-66 Saturday.

After struggling offensively in the first half, the Wolverines (8-5) erased a double-digit halftime deficit by exploding for 50 second-half points.

"We battled in the first half," UVSC coach Dick Hunsaker said. "We just couldn't make any baskets — Albany played terrific defense against us. They knocked us around, and we wanted to whine.

"In the second half, we came out and played physical and competed against them. We just played with a lot of competitive energy and spirit and fight in the second half."

The Great Danes (7-5), who defeated Utah 59-58 on Thursday, led 33-23 at halftime Saturday. Midway through the second half, Albany was clinging to a 50-46 advantage when the Wolverines turned the tables with a 13-2 run that put UVSC ahead for good.

Utah Valley forward David Heck converted a 3-point play to pull Utah Valley to within one point; a 3-pointer from the left wing by guard Ryan Toolson gave the Wolverines the lead for good at 52-50. Toolson capped the 13-2 run with a pair of free throws to make it 59-52.

The Great Danes narrowed the gap to 61-57 on a Jamar Wilson layup with 58 seconds left. But the comeback attempt fizzled on Utah Valley's next possession when Albany guard Jon Iati got whistled for an intentional foul, giving UVSC a pair of free throws and possession of the ball.

The Wolverines enjoyed their largest lead of the game at 70-60 with 13 seconds left. Iati made two 3-pointers in the final 11 seconds, but for Albany it was a case of too little, too late.

Albany was hurt by the loss of shooting guard Jason Siggers, its second-leading scorer, to a sprained left ankle. Siggers was instrumental in the win over the Utes, scoring a career-high 22 points. But after Thursday's game, the ankle swelled up significantly. Saturday, Siggers scored zero points on 0-for-7 shooting in 17 minute of playing time.

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Iati came off the bench for the Great Danes and scored a game-high 25 points, including 7-for-10 3-point shooting.

Heck and Toolson scored 19 and 16 points, respectively, to lead UVSC.

In the second half, Utah Valley shot 60 percent (15-for-25) from the field and connected on 15 of 18 free-throw attempts.

The Wolverines host Missouri-Kansas City at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday.

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