Charlie Kirk tragedy resurfaces as trolls mock Utah Valley after Isaac Davis missed dunk ends March Madness dream

A tense college basketball game ended in heartbreak for Utah Valley. But what happened online after the final play shocked many fans. Utah Valley lost 63–61 to Cal Baptist in the Western Athletic Conference championship game on Saturday night in Paradise, Nevada.

The defeat meant the Wolverines missed an automatic place in the NCAA Tournament, which would have been the first March Madness appearance in school history. In the final seconds, Utah Valley guard Isaac Davis tried to tie the game with a dunk. The attempt missed, and the buzzer sounded moments later. Soon after the highlight was posted online, several people on X began sharing cruel jokes that referenced the 2025 shooting death of political activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.

Many fans quickly pushed back, calling the comments insensitive and disrespectful. Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on September 10, 2025 while speaking with students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Police later arrested Tyler James Robinson in connection with the case.

Dominique Daniels Jr leads Cal Baptist past Utah Valley as Isaac Davis miss sparks online backlash

While the online reaction stirred anger, the game itself was dramatic from start to finish. Cal Baptist guard Dominique Daniels Jr stepped up late and changed the game in the final minutes.

Daniels made three three-pointers in the last two minutes and finished the night with 23 points.His biggest shot came with only 14.6 seconds left. Daniels hit a pull-up three-pointer as the shot clock was about to expire, giving Cal Baptist a two-point lead. Utah Valley still had one last chance. Isaac Davis drove toward the basket for a dunk that could have tied the game. But the ball bounced away, and Cal Baptist held on for the 63–61 victory.Soon after the play spread online, some X users posted tasteless comments about Utah Valley. One post read, “Isaac Davis’ missed dunk is the worst thing to happen in the history of Utah Valley.”Another comment said, “I thought nobody missed at Utah Valley University.” A different user wrote, “It’s a shame. Until today Utah Valley was known for good shooting.” Many fans criticized those posts and said joking about a real tragedy crossed a line.On the court, Utah Valley had strong performances despite the loss. Forward Jackson Holcombe scored 18 points, while Isaac Davis added 12. Trevan Leonhardt also played a key role. He grabbed 10 rebounds and handed out eight assists while defending Daniels throughout the game.For Cal Baptist, Bradey Henige scored 11 points and Jonathan Griman added 10 points before fouling out late. The Lancers improved to 25–8 and extended their program record for wins in a Division I season.

The team has now won six straight games.Utah Valley also finished with a 25–8 record. The Wolverines had won seven games in a row before the championship loss and have captured two straight regular-season conference titles. Even with the defeat, Utah Valley will still play in the National Invitation Tournament. Both programs will also begin a new chapter next season when they move to the Big West Conference.