FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 3. 2009

LAIE. Hawaii (DSC) – Lucas Alves scored 33 points and Jet Chang added 17 to power nationally fourth-ranked BYU-Hawaii to a 100-79 men's basketball victory over Dixie State late Monday night.

The Seasiders (6-0. 15-1) took over sole possession of first place in the Pacific West Conference with their victory over the Red Storm (5-1. 11-8).

Dixie State was within 71-64 after Dalton Groskreutz (Santa Clara, UT/Snow Canyon)' three-point play with 7:56 remaining in the game. But BYU-Hawaii went on an 18-5 run to pull away from the Red Storm.

Tom Whitehead (St. George, UT/Dixie) came off the bench for 16 points to lead Dixie State. Groskreutz and Ryan Sanchez (Ogden. UT/Fremont) added 13 points each.

BYU-Hawaii had a 42-33 rebounding advantage and turned over the ball just 11 times while Dixie State gave it away 16 times.

Trenson Akana and Marques Whippey each added 11 points for BYU-Hawaii while JR Buensuceso had 10 points apiece.

“They're good.” said Dixie State coach Jon Judkins. “They play extremely well at home. There's no question they're the best team we've played.

“We didn't get our keys.” Judkins continued. “That was transition defense. rebounding and we didn't take care of the ball. They got 13 offensive rebounds.

“The first part of the game our defense was good. but we didn't maintain it.” Judkins said.

“It's a tough one. but it's going to make us better for Wednesday; it's going to make us better for Saturday (against Hawaii-Hilo).” Judkins said.

“We're going to play another game against them that's just as important as this one.” Judkins said of two games in St. George later this season.

BYU-Hawaii trailed much of the first half. But the Seasiders finished the half on a 19-6 run to build a 39-30 lead. They scored 14 points in a row over a four-minute span to erase a 24-20 Dixie State lead. Alves had the final seven points in that spurt.

The Red Storm had a 16-9 lead early in the half following a 9-2 run in which Nick Howard (Sandy. UT/Jordan) scored four points. Whippey led the Seasiders on an 11-4 run to erase Dixie State's lead. The Red Storm took the lead back briefly. but then went cold as BYU-Hawaii went on its extended run.

Dixie State will continue its trip to Hawaii with a game at Chaminade on Wednesday. That game will be broadcast live on KDXU radio. 890 AM. and on the Internet at www.dixieathletics.com at 10:30 p.m. Utah time.