Utah Valley Misses Dunk, Loses Chance at NCAA Tournament Berth

Wolverines fall short in WAC championship game against Cal Baptist

Mar. 15, 2026 at 1:51pm

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In the final seconds of the Western Athletic Conference championship game, Utah Valley forward Isaac Davis missed a crucial dunk that would have tied the game and sent the Wolverines to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Utah Valley fell to Cal Baptist 68-66, ending their season just short of the big dance.

Why it matters

This was a heartbreaking moment for the Utah Valley men's basketball program, which was on the verge of making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. The missed dunk by Davis sealed the Wolverines' fate, denying them the chance to compete on the biggest stage in college basketball.

The details

With less than 5 seconds remaining and Utah Valley trailing Cal Baptist 68-66, Davis had an alley-oop opportunity to tie the game. However, he was unable to convert the dunk, sealing the victory for Cal Baptist and their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth. Davis, a sophomore, had been a key contributor for Utah Valley this season, averaging 11 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

  • The WAC championship game took place on March 14, 2026.
  • The NCAA Tournament begins with the First Four on March 17-18, 2026, with the championship game set for April 6 in Indianapolis.

The players

Isaac Davis

A sophomore forward for the Utah Valley Wolverines who missed a crucial dunk in the final seconds of the WAC championship game, costing his team a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Todd Phillips

The head coach of the Utah Valley Wolverines, who has led the team to improved records in each of his three seasons at the helm.

Cal Baptist

The opponent of Utah Valley in the WAC championship game, who secured their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth with the victory.

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What’s next

Cal Baptist will find out their NCAA Tournament first-round opponent during Selection Sunday, which takes place on March 16, 2026 at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.

The takeaway

This heartbreaking loss for Utah Valley highlights the fine line between success and failure in college basketball, especially in high-stakes conference championship games. While the Wolverines had a historic season, the missed dunk will linger as a painful reminder of what could have been.