BILLINGS, MONTANA – The Dixie State College Red Storm dropped a non-conference West Region decision on the road to Montana State University-Billings 63-60 on Monday night at Alterowitz Gymnasium. DSC split the season series with the Yellowjackets after a December 5 win at the Burns Arena 78-75.
The loss moves Dixie State's record to 5-2 and snapped a three-game winning streak. MSUB improves to 5-2 in non-conference play.
Tom Whitehead (St. George, UT/Dixie) led three Dixie State players in double figures with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field. Andy Palmer (St. George. UT/Pine View) had a team-high eight rebounds and 11 points. Jeremiah Barnes (Compton, CA/Los Altos) had 10 points – reaching double figures off the bench for the second consecutive game.
The Storm's only lead of the first half came on an opening layup by Whitehead. MSU-Billings rattled off eight straight points before DSC countered with a 6-0 run to knot the game at 8-8. Both teams shot under 40-percent, but the Jackets led by 12 points after Brett Taylor drained a three at the 2:49 mark. Dixie State cut the lead in half reeling off the final six points of the half to trail 32-26 at the break.
A 9-4 run by MSUB pushed the lead to 11 points, 41-30, over the first three-plus minutes of the second half. The teams traded buckets until Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) hit a jumper with 10:20 left to cut the Yellowjackets' advantage to 45-40.
Donovan Plunkett (Oroville, CA/Las Plumas) capped off a crucial 11-2 Red Storm run with a pair of free throws to give Dixie State a lead 48-47, its first since 2-0 in the opening seconds. Costly turnovers allowed MSUB to answer with a 7-0 run highlighted by a rainbow three from DeAndre Chambers.
Davell Jackson converted two foul shots with 37 seconds left to give MSUB a 61-55 lead, but the Red Storm surged to close the gap within one. Whitehead drained a crucial three from the wing and Plunkett nailed two free throws within a 15-second span. Down by one, Plunkett forced a steal but gave the ball right back leading to a fast-break jam by Chambers.
DSC had a final look to tie the game, but Barnes' three-pointer bounced off the back iron to seal the Jackets' win.
Each team had 22 field goals with MSUB (22-53, 41.5%) having a better field-goal percentage having taken one less attempt that Dixie State (22-54, 40.7%). The Storm bested the battle of the boards 39-30, but were outscored 24-12 in points off turnovers.
Dixie State takes the rest of the week off to celebrate Christmas, but returns to action on Tuesday, December 29 on the road against #17 Western Washington. Tip off from Bellingham is scheduled for 8pm Mountain time.
