FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 14. 2009

            ST. GEORGE. Utah (DSC) – Ryan Sanchez (Ogden. UT/Fremont) scored 20 points. five in the final two and one-half minutes. as Dixie State held off Hawaii Pacific 80-72 in Pacific West Conference men's basketball Saturday night.

            Dalton Groskreutz (Santa Clara, UT/Snow Canyon) added 15 points and Ben Hartman (Santa Clara. UT/Snow Canyon) had 14 as the Red Storm (6-3. 12-10) outscored the Sea Warriors 14-7 over the final four minutes of play.

            Rishi Kakd had 17 points to pace Hawaii Pacific (3-7. 9-11) while Jeff Ingram had 14 and Adrian den Dulk added 13. Mike Helton had 10.

            The Sea Warriors were within 66-65 after Kakd hit two free throws with 4:08 remaining in the game. Hartman and Sanchez hit back-to-back 3-point baskets to give Dixie State some breathing room but Hawaii Pacific was within four points until Groskreutz and Hartman hit two free throws each in the last 21 seconds for the final margin.

            Dixie State had a 36-33 rebounding margin with Sanchez grabbing nine to lead the way. Den Dulk had 10 to pace Hawaii Pacific.

            The Red Storm shot 58 percent from the field in the second half and 49 percent for the game while the Sea Warriors shot just 38 percent.

            "It was tough." DSC coach Jon Judkins said of the narrow win. "But a win's a win. We did some really good things. We adjusted well defensively the second half.

            "I thought Christian (Wouden. who had eight points and four rebounds) played very well. He gave us a good spark."

            The Sea Warriors opened the game with back-to-back 3-point baskets from Ingram and Curtis and led 11-4 with 16:25 left in the half. The Red Storm didn't take a lead until Johnny Little (Murray. UT/Murray HS) started a 9-0 burst with a 3-pointer at the 7:43 mark. His basket tied the score at 23-23 and Christian Wouden (Mantua. UT/Box Elder) converted two free throws 27 seconds later.

            Hawaii Pacific tied the score at 29 on Ingram's trey with 5:11 remaining in the half. but Dixie State then went on a 10-0 run and led 39-33 at intermission.

            The Red Storm will be at home again next week. meeting league-leading BYU-Hawaii on Friday night. Tipoff is scheduled at 7:30 p.m.