This March, while there are celebrations, there’s also a deep sense of sadness.
In the WAC Championship Game, top-seeded Utah Valley faced No. 2 California Baptist, and Wolverines sophomore Isaac Davis experienced a heartbreaking moment, missing a critical alley-oop that could have tied the game just before the end.
California Baptist (25-8) emerged victorious with a 63-61 win at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time after transitioning from Division II—something they’ve worked towards since 2018.
Meanwhile, the Wolverines (25-8) had dominated the regular season, claiming back-to-back conference titles and winning four of their last six. Yet, they are left pondering “what if?”
“I’m really proud of our players,” said Utah Valley coach Todd Phillips. “They fought hard and put themselves in a position to win. It’s tough when one play makes such a difference, but they showed great heart and resilience.”
Entering the championship match on a seven-game winning streak, the Wolverines had previously beaten Cal Baptist by 19 points on February 19, giving them a 2-1 edge in their regular-season matches.
California Baptist had a narrow lead in the second half until guard Dominik Daniels Jr. hit two quick 3-pointers, setting the score at 60 points with just over a minute remaining.
Utah Valley briefly reclaimed the lead with a free throw from star guard Jackson Holcomb, but Daniels quickly knocked down another three-pointer, putting Cal Baptist ahead by two with only 14.6 seconds to go. Davis’s attempt to tie the game hit the rim.
“Anything can happen in March,” remarked Daniels, who managed to score 23 points despite a challenging shooting night, making just 7 of his 25 tries. “That’s what kept running through my mind.”
Davis contributed 12 points along with six rebounds and two steals, while Holcomb led the Wolverines with 18 points.
Despite the loss, Phillips noted that the season has plenty of accomplishments to be proud of, reiterating that a single missed shot doesn’t define a team’s effort.
“We had opportunities late, but we couldn’t capitalize,” Phillips stated. “Our team fought back from an early deficit. This was a tough battle, but we’ve achieved a lot this season to be proud of.”
For both programs, this game marks a transition, as they will join the Big West next season while the WAC becomes the United Athletic Conference. California Baptist now awaits their name to be announced during Sunday’s selection meeting.
