MONMOUTH. Ore. - The Western Oregon men's basketball team earned a season-opening win over Dixie State 79-71. Saturday. Nov. 15.
Sam Kelly had 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting to lead four Wolves in double-figures. Freshman Blair Wheadon had 17 points and Mike McLaughlin added 14. Travis Kuhns had 10 rebounds to go along seven assists to lead Western Oregon in both categories. He also scored all 10 of his points in the second half as he posted a double-double in the victory.
This was a tightly fought contest by both teams with seven ties and 14 lead-changes in the game. Western Oregon did not have a free throw until the 14:38 mark in the second half but then went 16-of-17 for the rest of the game as it outscored Dixie State 39-28 the rest of the half. The Wolves controlled the paint as it won the battle of the boards 42-25. outscored Dixie State 19-6 on second chance points and had six blocks to Dixie's zero.
The Wolves trailed 32-26 at halftime as Dixie State closed out the first half on a 9-2 run. Western Oregon committed 13 turnovers in the first half compared to Dixie's five but went 4of-8 from three point range and used a 21-12 rebounding advantage to stay in the game. After Dixie State used a 10-2 run to take its largest lead of the game at 50-41. Western Oregon responded with a 12-0 run to take the lead at 53-50. The two teams would then have four more lead changes and another tie. before WOU went on a 7-0 run at the 2:44 mark for a lead it would not relinquish on its way to the 78-71 victory.
WOU shot 54.8 percent from the field (17-31) in the second half compared to a 39.3 mark (11-28) in the first frame. The Wolves' defense was key at during its 7-0 run in the second half as it got blocks from Kelly and Kuhns and a steal from Kuhns as to go up eight points with just over a minute remaining in the game.
Dixie State was led by Ryan Sanchez (Ogden. UT/Fremont)'s 17 points and Dalton Groskruetz's 16 points.
Dixie State will be back in action next week when they travel to Helena. MT for two non-conference games. You can listen to all the live action with Mike McGary on KDXU 890AM.
