Utah Valley's Comeback Comes Up Short in 79-78 NIT Thriller

The Wolverines' 27-game home win streak ends in heartbreaking loss to George Washington.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 3:24am

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Utah Valley's impressive 27-game home win streak came to an end as they fell 79-78 to George Washington in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament. The Wolverines fought back from a 16-point halftime deficit, but couldn't complete the comeback in the final seconds.

Why it matters

Utah Valley had been one of the hottest teams in the country, riding a 27-game home win streak that was the fourth-longest active streak in the nation. The loss ends their season and their quest for a third straight WAC title, but the Wolverines can still be proud of another 25-win campaign.

The details

Utah Valley struggled offensively early, trailing 45-29 at halftime. But they roared back in the second half, cutting the deficit to just six points with 12 minutes left. The Wolverines took a 67-66 lead with 4:50 remaining, but George Washington responded with a 9-4 run to regain control. Utah Valley made it close at the end, but couldn't get the final shot to fall.

  • The loss snaps Utah Valley's 27-game home win streak, the fourth-longest active streak in the nation.
  • Utah Valley wraps up the year with its second straight outright WAC regular-season championship.

The players

Jackson Holcombe

Led Utah Valley with a career-high 27 points, going 14-of-15 from the free throw line while adding seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals.

Todd Phillips

Utah Valley's head coach, who said he was proud of his team's fight and resilience in the second-half comeback.

George Washington

The opposing team, who held a 16-point lead at halftime before holding off Utah Valley's furious comeback attempt.

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What they’re saying

“I'm really proud of our guys. We fought back. We scored 49 points in the second half, got stops, got the crowd behind us, and made a push. It just comes down to making one more play.”

— Todd Phillips, Head Coach

“I think we went into the locker room more upset with our effort and body language than the score. That wasn't us. We said we were going to go out swinging and compete until the final buzzer, and I think you saw that in the second half.”

— Jackson Holcombe

“Coach put me in a great spot and my teammates got me a good look. I think I passed up a good one and took a tougher shot. I should've shot the floater.”

— Jackson Holcombe

The takeaway

Despite the heartbreaking loss, Utah Valley can still be proud of another impressive season that included a second straight outright WAC regular-season championship. The Wolverines showed tremendous fight in the second half, proving they are one of the top mid-major programs in the country.