OREM, Utah-Saturday, Utah Valley men’s basketball (5-9) hosts the NAIA Antelope Valley Pioneers (10-4, 6-0 in California Pacific Conference play) of Lancaster, Calif. in a non-conference tilt at the UCCU Center.

Under new head coach Mark Madsen (5-9, .357) is having his struggles as he seeks to rebuild the Wolverines’ program with the departure of Mark Pope to nearby BYU.

The Wolverines score 69.9 points per game, ranking them 222nd nationally in scoring offense.

Junior guard Isaiah White (16.5 points, 9.2 rebounds per game) is UVU’s overall statistical leader.

Senior guard TJ Washington (13.3 points, 4.6 rebounds per game), redshirt junior guard Brandon Averette (12.4 points per game, a team-best 39 assists) and redshirt junior guard/forward Casdon Jardine (10.6 points, 4.6 rebounds per game) all score in double figures on average for the Wolverines.

Junior guard Jamison Overton has a team-best 15 steals and senior forward Emmanuel Olojakpoke leads the squad with 39 blocked shots.

Olojakpoke ranks 7th nationally in blocked shots and his 2.79 blocked shots per game rank 18th nationally.

The Wolverines currently rank 2nd in the nation with 82 blocked shots and 13th nationally in blocked shots per game (5.9).

UVU surrenders 70.5 points per game, tying them for 214th nationally with Boston U. and Sam Houston State, in scoring defense.

The Pioneers are coached by first-year head coach Jordan Mast (10-4, .714).

Antelope Valley scores 78 points per game on the season.

The Pioneers are led by senior guard Ronnie Rousseau III (18.3 points per game). His teammates also scoring in double figures are senior guard Chris Johnson (10.7 points, 4.2 rebounds per game, team bests in assists [41] and steals [35]) and senior guard Kamal Holden (10.3 points, 6 rebounds per game).

Lithuanian national, senior center Deividas Mockaitis leads the Pioneers with 8 blocked shots.

Antelope Valley surrenders 67.3 points per game on the season.

The Wolverines lead the Pioneers 2-0 all-time.