- Matchup: George Washington Colonials vs Utah Valley Wolverines
- Event Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- Venue: UCCU Center in Orem, UT
- Broadcast: ESPN+
- Betting Odds: George Washington (+1)
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The Utah Valley Wolverines (25-8) are set to face off against the George Washington Colonials (18-15) at the UCCU Center on Wednesday for the initial round of the NIT tournament, with George Washington starting as 1-point underdogs. The total points line is set at 157.
In their last contest, the George Washington Colonials faced off against Saint Louis, ultimately losing 88-81. The Colonials managed a field goal percentage of 40.0%, sinking 28 of 70 attempts, including 13 of 39 from three-point range. At the free-throw line, George Washington converted 12 of 20 shots for a 60.0% success rate. They secured 40 rebounds, with 16 being offensive, alongside 15 assists. Defensively, they forced 11 turnovers and recorded 5 steals. Opponents shot 45.8% against them, making 27 of their 59 attempts. Saint Louis delivered 19 assists and garnered 33 boards (7 offensive, 26 defensive) but did not register any blocks. They excelled at the line, hitting 24 of 26 free throws for 92.3% and made 10 of 30 from beyond the arc. The Colonials committed 21 fouls compared to 16 for Saint Louis.
A noteworthy performance came from Trey Autry, who demonstrated strong play with a 46.2% shooting rate, contributing 19 points from 6 of 13 shooting during his 30-minute appearance. He also tallied 2 rebounds and 1 assist.
Entering this matchup, George Washington maintains an 18-15 record for the season, averaging 82.1 points per game (51st in D-1) with a shooting percentage of 46.7%. They also hit 35.2% from three-point territory, making 329 of 935 attempts, and achieving 71.8% from the free-throw line. On average, the Colonials collect 37.7 rebounds per game and have registered a total of 519 assists this season, ranking 68th in Division 1 for assists. They average 12.7 turnovers and commit 17.9 fouls per game.
Defensively, the Colonials are forcing 12.8 turnovers each game and drawing 17.1 fouls. They rank 315th overall in the number of assists allowed, with 504 given up this season. The Colonials concede a shooting percentage of 44.4% (843 of 1,899) and allow an average of 31.9 rebounds per game. Opponents shoot at 33.2% from beyond the arc and the Colonials rank 179th in college basketball for points allowed per game (73.7).
Meanwhile, the Utah Valley Wolverines faced a loss against California Baptist in their last game, closing with a score of 63-61. They secured 20 defensive rebounds alongside 8 offensive boards for a total of 28. The team committed 13 turnovers while registering 6 steals in the process. California Baptist committed 20 fouls, sending the Wolverines to the line 24 times. Utah Valley made 14 of those attempts at a rate of 58.3%. From three-point territory, they scored on 3 of 8 shots (37.5%) and achieved a total shooting percentage of 44.0%, sinking 22 of 50 attempts. On defense, they allowed California Baptist to hit 22 of 58 total shots, translating to a 37.9% success rate. The Wolverines allowed 29 total rebounds (6 offensive) to their opponents.
Jackson Holcombe was instrumental for the Wolverines, contributing 18 points in his 31 minutes on the floor and recording 1 assist. He shot 50.0% from the field, hitting 6 of 12 attempts, along with 3 rebounds.
Utah Valley boasts a commendable record of 25-8 this season. On average, they commit 18.4 fouls per game and maintain a free-throw shooting percentage of 69.2%. Their assists per game stand at 18.4 (8th in the nation), and they average 14.1 turnovers. The Wolverines have racked up 2,646 points this season (80.2 per game) and average 36.7 rebounds per game. Offensively, they are shooting 50.3% from the floor, ranking them 10th in the country.
The Utah Valley defense allows opponents to shoot 33.8% from three-point range (215 of 636) and grants a free-throw percentage of 72.3%. Defensively, they average 12.3 assists given up and 31.5 rebounds allowed per game, holding ranks of 92nd and 33rd, respectively, in college basketball. Furthermore, the Wolverines rank 49th in terms of points conceded, averaging 68.5 per game, while forcing 15.2 turnovers every match, allowing teams a shooting percentage of 41.5% (44th in college basketball).
Which team will come out on top in tonight’s NCAA matchup?
Selection: Take George Washington (+1)
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