Dec. 7, 2012

TROY, Ala. -- Utah Valley University will take its final road trip of the pre-Christmas schedule when the Wolverines travel to Alabama to face Troy University on Saturday at 6 p.m. MT. The game can be heard live on 960 AM the Zone and WolverineGreen.com.

UVU (4-6) fell on Wednesday at Weber State while Troy (4-5) last played on Saturday, Dec. 1, a four-point loss to Western Kentucky in Sun Belt Conference action. The game will be the first of two between the schools this month, with Troy making the return trip to Orem on Dec. 19.

"Troy is simliar to Weber State in that they'll have week off leading into this game and will be well-rested and energized," said UVU coach Dick Hunsaker. "They're a quick team and we're going to have to be disciplined and take care of the basketball."

In the loss at Weber State, UVU got 12 points apiece from Holton Hunsaker and Nick Thompson and 11 points and seven rebounds from Alfonzo Hubbard. The Wildcats used an early run to take an 11-pont halftime lead and then pulled away in the second half for the win.

Hunsaker shared the Great West Conference's Player of the Week award on Monday, after scoring 22 in a win over Pepperdine last Saturday.

The contest at Troy will be game No. 11 on the season and the ninth of the year away from the UCCU Center for the Wolverines. After this trip, UVU will play three straight at home beginning next Saturday against Utah State.

Troy is 4-5 overall and 0-2 in Sun Belt action after the 75-71 loss to Western Kentucky on Dec. 1. The Trojans are coached by veteran Don Maestri, who has spent over 30 years in charge of the Troy program and is nearing 500 career wins.

Hunter Williams (10.8), Emil Jones (10.2) and Antoine Myers (10.1) lead Troy in the scoring column with Jones 5.4 rebounds per game leading the team. Saturday's game will be the third meeting all-time between UVU and Troy, with each team winning on its home court and the last meeting coming back in 2008.