ST. GEORGE, UTAH – Coming off a tough, but fruitful trip to the Hawaiian Islands, the Dixie State College men's basketball team returned home to begin a four-game closing homestand against the Penguins of Dominican University. The Red Storm held off a late Dominican charge to win 73-64 on Thursday night and remain tied atop the Pacific West Conference standings at 11-2.

DSC, ranked fifth in the West Region, improved to 17-5 on the season behind a game-high 18 points from Donovan Plunkett (Oroville, CA/Las Plumas). Dominican (9-15, 6-7 PWC) played tough throughout the game while missing leading scorer Austin Bryan who is expected to miss the remainder of the year with a knee injury.

Adam Ross (Torrance. CA/North Torrance ) posted a new career high with eight rebounds while chipping in 11 points. Jeremiah Barnes (Compton, CA/Los Altos) had 13 off the bench before fouling out. DSC leading scorer Tom Whitehead (St. George, UT/Dixie) was held to five points in 22 minutes.

Neither team opened up more than a five-point lead in the first 15 minutes. Dominican excelled in the paint and assumed slim advantages of multiple Killian Larson lay-ups. Barnes answered the call for Dixie State driving to the bucket for a 15-10 Red Storm lead at the 11:37 mark.

Both teams stayed close until the final three minutes when Dixie State closed the half with stellar defensive stops. Subsequently, McKay Massey (Payson, UT/Payson) hit a pair of baseline jumpers and four free throws from Plunkett & Ross punctuated a 10-0 run to give Dixie State the lead at the half 35-23.

Dixie State pushed the lead to as many as 17 points in the second half and lead by 16 on Massey's three-ball with 8:43 left.

The Penguins did not give in and continued to push the ball inside. Guard Alastair Flack penetrated into the paint earning six fouls shots and hitting all of them. With 58 ticks left, Larson's lay-in cut the DSC margin to eight.

The Storm rebounded two missed Penguin triple attempts and iced the game with free throws from Ross & Massey.

Larson led Dominican in scoring with 17 points. Alex Ward had 13 points and eight rebounds while Flack ended the night with 11 points.

Dixie State hosts Academy of Art University on Saturday afternoon at 3pm in the Burns Arena.

Join John Potter and “The Coach” Mike Olson for radio coverage beginning upon completion of the women's game with the Urban Knights tipping at 1:00pm.