BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON – Tom Whitehead (St. George, UT/Dixie) set career-bests with 22 points and eight rebounds Tuesday night at Carver Gymnasium, but Dixie State College could not make a 11-point lead in the second half stand falling to Western Washington University 81-73 in non-conference action.
The junior forward was 7-of-14 from the field, hit four three-pointers and sank four free throws. Whitehead's previous high was 19 points against Northwest Nazarene on December 4.
Andy Palmer (St. George. UT/Pine View) shot 50-percent en route to 13 points and ripped down nine rebounds, a team high. Nick Howard (Sandy. UT/Jordan), Donovan Plunkett (Oroville, CA/Las Plumas) and Jeremiah Barnes (Compton, CA/Los Altos) each added nine points.
Dixie State (5-3) enjoyed a 36-33 lead at halftime shooting 51-percent. They extended the lead to 11 points with 17:35 left by hitting a pair of threes, a layup and a jumper early in the second half.
Morris Anderson scored 17 second-half points leading the Viking attack outscoring DSC 46 to 27 over the final 16 minutes. Western Washington, ranked #16 in this week's NABC Division II poll, improved to 12-1 on the season with their 11th straight victory.
The Red Storm return to action Saturday night, January 2nd, inside the Burns Arena welcoming Western State College of Colorado for a non-conference meeting. Tip time is set for 7:30pm Mountain.
