NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
The Utah Valley Wolverines suffered tremendous heartbreak in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) men’s basketball championship game against California Baptist on Saturday.
The Wolverines were down 63-61 with about 10 seconds left to play. Utah Valley was running a play when they inbounded the ball from the sideline. Trevan Leonhardt caught the pass and Isac Davis set up the pick and roll. Leonhardt got around the defender and Davis had an open opportunity.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Jayden Jackson #3 and Dominique Daniels Jr. The #1 California Baptist Lancers celebrate defeating the Wolverines 63-61 in the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament at Orleans Arena on March 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Candice Ward/Getty Images)
Davis went up for an alley-oop dunk but just couldn’t finish it. He sat on the ground in disbelief.
The Lancers won the game and earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
California Baptist star Dominique Daniels Jr. scored 23 points and hit two 3-pointers in the final two minutes of the game to lift his team to the big dance. Bradey Henige had 11 points and Jonathan Griman added 10.
2026 NCAA TOURNAMENT BERTH TRACKER: AUTOMATIC BIDS, CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TIMES AND DEFENDING CHAMPS
Dominique Daniels Jr. The #1 California Baptist Lancers celebrate defeating the Utah Valley Wolverines 63-61 in the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament at Orleans Arena on March 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Candice Ward/Getty Images)
It will be the first tournament berth in California Baptist men’s basketball history. The school moved from Division II to Division I in 2018 and became eligible for the postseason in the 2022–23 season.
Utah Valley saw its seven-game winning streak snapped. The school is 25-7 overall this season and could easily be on the outside looking in on the tournament. The Wolverines were the Western Athletic Conference regular season champions.
Dominique Daniels Jr. #1 of the California Baptist Lancers shoots against Isaac Davis #1 of the Utah Valley Wolverines during the second half of the championship game of the Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament at Orleans Arena on March 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Candice Ward/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
Next season, both teams will participate in the Big West Conference. The WAC will rebrand as the United Athletic Conference.
