Utah Valley Wolverines Set for 2025 NIT First Round

OREM, Utah — The Utah Valley Wolverines are heading to the 2025 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) after an impressive season marked by a 15-1 record in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and a historic first appearance in the WAC Tournament championship game. With a season record of 25-8, the team earned an automatic bid and will face the San Francisco Dons in the first round.

Matchup Details

The Wolverines are scheduled to play against the Dons on Wednesday, March 19, at 8 p.m. PT/9 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.

Previous NIT Appearances

This marks Utah Valley’s third appearance in the NIT tournament. The Wolverines debuted in the tournament in 2014, falling to California in the first round. However, their last outing in 2023 showcased their potential as they advanced to the Final Four, defeating teams including New Mexico, Colorado, and Cincinnati before succumbing to UAB in a closely contested overtime match in the semifinals.

Historical Context Against San Francisco

In terms of historical matchups, Utah Valley has faced San Francisco three times, holding a record of 1-2. Their sole victory came in 2007 when they defeated the Dons 73-61 in Orem. The most recent clash occurred in 2018 during the second round of the College Basketball Invitational, where UVU was edged out with a score of 78-73. The Wolverines are yet to secure a victory in San Francisco, holding an 0-2 record in games on the Dons’ home court.

About the San Francisco Dons

The Dons, sporting an overall record of 24-9 and a 13-5 finish in the West Coast Conference, are making their second consecutive NIT appearance. Under head coach Chris Gerlufsen in his third year, the team reached the semifinals of the WCC Championship and will host their first-round game on-campus for the first time in over a decade.

Next Steps

The winner of the game between Utah Valley and San Francisco will move on to face the victor of the matchup between San José State and Loyola Chicago in the next round. The tournament will culminate with the semifinals and championship game at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Follow the Game

Fans can catch all the action via the live broadcast on ESPNU or tune in to the radio coverage on the Wolverine Sports Network and ESPN The Fan.

As excitement builds for this first-round matchup, the Wolverines look to capitalize on their successful season and make another memorable run in the NIT.