Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Utah Tech
'Cats return home to host Utah Tech Saturday
12/19/2025 4:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball
• Weber State men's basketball returns home to face another instate rival and start a four-game homestand beginning Saturday night when the Wildcats host Utah Tech.
• The Wildcats and Trailblazers will tipoff at 7 p.m. on Saturday night at the Dee Events Center. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and the ESPN app with Tony Parks and former Weber State standout and Big Sky MVP David Patten calling the action.
The Weber State radio broadcast with Carl Arky will be on 103.1 FM.
Live stats and video links are at WeberStateSports.com and the Weber State Wildcats app.
• Weber State is 5-6 on the season and coming off a 90-74 loss at Utah Valley on Wednesday night. The game was the third of three straight road games for the 'Cats.
• Utah Tech is 6-6 on the season heading into Saturday's game. Utah Tech will be joining the Big Sky Conference next year, along with Southern Utah.
• This is the last of four in-state games for Weber State this season, but the first at home. WSU played at Utah, Utah State, and Utah Valley, before hosting Utah Tech on Saturday.
• Edwin Suarez Jr. had a career high in Wednesday's game at Utah Valley. The junior from San Juan, Puerto Rico, had his second double-double of the year as he posted a career-high 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. He was 11 of 15 from the field and broke his previous career-high of 16 points with five minutes to play in the first half. The 26 points are the most by a Wildcat player in a game this season.
• On the season, Suarez is averaging 11.3 points per game and is second on the team in rebounding at 7.0 per game, which is also the fifth-best in the Big Sky. He is also shooting 53.7 percent from the field, and leads the team with six blocks.
Suarez transferred to WSU after two seasons at Arizona Western College where he was a junior college all-American.
• Weber State currently has six players averaging in double figures scoring. Jace Whiting leads the 'Cats at 13.4 points per game, followed by Trevor Hennig at 12.5. Viljami Vartiainen is averaging 11.4 points per game, but has missed the four games due to a knee injury. He is expected to return around the start of Big Sky play.
In addition to Suarez averaging 11.3 points per game, Tijan Saine Jr. is averaging 11.0 points and Nigel Burris is at 10.3 per game.
• Utah Valley shot 58.6 percent from the field, the best percentage by a team against the Wildcats this season. The Wolverines also made nine 3-pointers and had 23 assists with 10 blocks.
Weber State is now second in the country in 3-point field goal defense, holding opponents to 25 percent from 3-point range.
• Weber State leads the Big Sky in 3-point defense and in rebounding, at 41.5 per game, 32nd best in the country. The Wildcats are also second in the conference in rebounding margin, and third in field goal defense.
• This season, WSU is 5-1 when leading its opponent in field goal percentage and 0-5 when trailing. The 'Cats are also 5-0 when leading in assists and 0-5 when trailing, and 5-1 when leading at halftime, and 0-4 when trailing.
• Utah Tech is 6-6 on the season heading into Saturday's game. The Trailblazers started the season with a win at South Dakota. They also have wins over Mississippi Valley State and UC Riverside.
The Trailblazers are led by Ethan Potter who is averaging 16.4 points per game. Potter is a native of Layton, Utah and a transfer from Utah Valley. He was named to the preseason All-WAC team. Chance Trujillo is next at 11.7 points per game. Trujillo is a native of Kaysville, Utah and was a redshirt at Weber State during the 2021-22 season.
• The Trailblazers were 7-26 overall last season and 2-14 in the Western Athletic Conference. Utah Tech was picked sixth in this season's preseason poll in their final season of the WAC.
• Utah Tech will be joining the Big Sky Conference as a full member in July 2026, along with Southern Utah.
• The Trailblazers are coached by Jon Judkins who is in his 21st season at Utah Tech, where he has won 344 games. He has won 628 career games, including his time as head coach at Snow College.
• This will be just the third all-time meeting between the two schools with Weber State holding a 2-1 lead. The Wildcats are 2-0 against the Trailblazers in St. George and 0-1 in games in Ogden.
The 'Cats won in St. George in 2021. The only game played so far in Ogden was in December 2022, a 77-65 Utah Tech win.
Weber State beat the Trailblazers 73-71 last December in St. George led by Miguel Tomley who had 21 points and the game-winning layup in the final seconds.
• The Wildcats are coached by Eric Duft who is in his fourth season as head coach and his 20th season overall at Weber State. He spent 16 seasons as an assistant coach under Randy Rahe before becoming the 10th head coach in WSU history in May 2022. He has been on the coaching staff for over 600 games at Weber State, more than anyone in WSU's history.
This summer, NBA superstar and Wildcat legend Damian Lillard was named the General Manager of Weber State Basketball.
• After Saturday the Wildcats will play their final non-conference game of the season when they host Lincoln on Monday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. at the Dee Events Center.
The 'Cats will open 2026 and the Big Sky season on January 1 against Portland State.
