BOX SCORE
HONOLULU, HI – Behind 57 combined points from Tom Whitehead (St. George, UT/Dixie) and Donovan Plunkett (Oroville, CA/Las Plumas), the Dixie State College men's basketball team defeated Hawaii Pacific University 97-86 on Saturday evening inside the Blaisdell Center in a critical Pacific West Conference battle.
The Red Storm (16-5, 10-2 Pac West) are now tied with HPU (18-5, 10-2) for first place in the conference with BYU-Hawaii sitting in third a half-game back at 9-2.
Whitehead shot the lights out in the first half hitting seven of nine from the floor, four three-pointers and three free throws for 21 points in 14 minutes. Plunkett added 11 hitting a trio of triples. Dixie State and HPU both shot 50-percent or better as the Storm led 50-49 at the break.
HPU's Jeff Ingram hit three free-throws to put the Warriors up 58-56 in what turned out to be their final lead. Dixie State took control with a 10-2 run highlighted by four lay-up and two Plunkett free throws.
The DSC lead fluttered between three and six points before HPU closed to one on C.J. Jackson's lay-in. Jackson, who registered four first-half fouls, tallied his final foul with 5:52 left and Dixie State leading 78-72. The Storm punctuated Jackson's departure with a Whitehead three to extend the advantage to nine.
With 2:42 left, a HPU three made it a four-point game until Whitehead and Plunkett iced the contest away. Whitehead scored five in-a-row nailing a three and sinking a pair of foul shots. Over the final 40 seconds, Plunkett sank six freebies to put the contest away.
Whitehead finished with a career-high 29 points with Plunkett on his heels with 28. Nick Howard (Sandy. UT/Jordan) scored 12 points and freshman center Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) notched a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds). Dixie State shot 51.6-percent for the game although being out-rebounded by the Warriors 44-32.
Ray Murdock led five HPU in double figures with 24 points.
Dixie State College returns home Thursday night for a Pac West meeting with Dominican University. Tip time inside the Burns Arena is scheduled for 7:30pm.
Join John Potter and “The Coach” Mike Olson for radio coverage beginning upon completion of the women's game with the Penguins tipping at 5:30pm.
