Isaac Davis scored a game-high 22 points during Utah Valley's 84-63 victory over Western Colorado in the opening game of the 2026-27 men's basketball season. The Wolverines' win marks a revitalized start for the program as it enters its first year as a member of the Big West Conference.
Davis, a 6-foot-8 forward, has undergone a physical transformation over the offseason, losing 25 pounds. UVU coach Todd Phillips stated that the weight loss is expected to help Davis become more consistent with his athleticism and allow him to play more of the power forward position rather than center. Phillips noted that Davis has the potential to be an elite rebounder and on-ball defender.
The forward expressed a desire to prove skeptics wrong following a missed alley-oop dunk against Cal Baptist in a previous season that prevented a WAC Championship and NCAA Tournament berth. Davis said he has taken that experience hard and is using it as motivation to show what he is capable of for his teammates.
The Wolverines' roster includes several key players, such as 6-foot-10 senior Isaac Hawkins, who will play center to allow Davis to move to power forward. Other notable returners include guards Braden Housley and Sherman Weatherspoon, along with AJ Dixon, who sat out the previous season due to injury. Additionally, Dominick Nelson returned to the team after a year at Iowa State, contributing 16 points and four steals in the season opener.
As UVU transitions from the WAC to the Big West Conference, the team will face a schedule featuring more teams from California. Davis stated the team is prepared to prove themselves against opponents who may look down on the program.
