FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 20. 2009

            ST.GEORGE. Utah (DSC) – Virgil Buensucesco scored 25 points to lead third-ranked BYU-Hawaii to an 92-77 Pacific West Conference victory over Dixie State Friday night.

            Jet Chang added 17 points for the Seasiders (10-0. 20-1) while Trenson Akana had 11 points.

            Nick Howard (Sandy. UT/Jordan) paced DixieState (6-4. 12-11) with 13 points while Ryan Sanchez (Ogden. UT/Fremont) added 12 and Andy Palmer (St. George. UT/Pine View) had 10.

            Dixie State was within 50-44 on Palmer's basket with 15:27 remaining in the game. but BYU-Hawaii regained control with a 7-0 run and steadily pulled away from there.

            The Seasiders shot 48 percent from the field while the Red Storm managed just 39 percent. The Red Storm had a 42-40 rebounding advantage with Sanchez collecting nine.

            "Give those guys credit." said Dixie State coach Jon Judkins. "They beat us in every area. to loose balls. to rebounds.

            "We've got to be tougher and play meaner." Judkins said. "Those guys were.

            "We held their best guys (Lucas Alves) to seven points. but their other guys picked up the slack." Judkins concluded.

            In the first half BYU-Hawaii took a 7-0 lead in the first two minutes after tipoff. The Seasiders built their advantage to 38-24 behind a 10-0 burst about the four-minute mark with Garrett Sandberg getting four of those points.

            But Dixie State closed the first half with a 10-3 run to come within 41-34 at intermission. Jeffs and Tom Whitehead (St. George, UT/Dixie) each had 3-point baskets and Kimball Payne (Alpine, UT/Lone Peak) had a layup and two free throws during the spurt.

            The Red Storm will be on the road Feb. 27 and 28. travelling to California to play Notre Dame de Namur both nights.