MBB: DSC Dominant in 80-48 Win over Hilo

Second half surge pushes Storm to brink of conference title

BOX SCORE

ST. GEORGE, UTAH – The Dixie State College men's basketball team led by six points at the half over the visiting Vulcans of Hawaii-Hilo on Thursday night. In the second half at home inside the Burns Arena, the Red Storm dominated nearly every aspect of the game, outscoring Hilo 51-25 over the final 20 minutes en route to a convincing 80-48 Pacific West Conference victory.

Dixie State (19-5, 13-2 PWC) had 12 different players score at least two points led by Tom Whitehead (St. George, UT/Dixie) with 12. Adam Ross (Torrance. CA/North Torrance ) chipped in 11 while the trio of Andy Palmer (St. George. UT/Pine View), Donovan Plunkett (Oroville, CA/Las Plumas) and Jeremiah Barnes (Compton, CA/Los Altos) each had 8. Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) ripped down nine rebounds with Barnes and Nick Howard (Sandy. UT/Jordan) each pulling down six.

DSC never trailed from the jump opening up a 10-5 lead after two Robbins free throws. Plunkett's lay-in with 12:29 remaining pushed the lead to 16-7. UHH responded with a 7-0 run over two minutes capped by a Kevin Bruce three-ball. The Storm countered with free straight from the line and carried the momentum to the halftime break leading by six.

Control of the game for DSC was established in the first five minutes of the second half. Ross scored nine points in-a-row during a 15-4 spurt giving Dixie State a 17-point lead, 44-27. The advantage pushed to 20 at the 9:00 mark after a Whitehead three and a Palmer lay-up. Seven minutes later, the cushion leaped to 31 on an Everton Araujo (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Torquato Caleiro) jumper.

The final seven points of the game came from John Berger (Medford, OR/North Medford) and Aaron Pugh (Hurricane, UT/Hurricane). Berger tipped in a shot and then hit a reverse lay-up. Pugh nailed a wide open three from the wing in the final minute.

Dixie State shot 54.1-percent from the floor on the night and out-rebounded UHH 43-27.

The Red Storm concludes the Pac West regular season on Saturday afternoon against the Sea Warriors of Hawaii Pacific University. Tip time is scheduled for 3:00pm in the Burns Arena. A win over HPU would ensure at least a share of the conference title.

Saturday is also Senior Day. The DSC basketball family will honor Andy Palmer (St. George. UT/Pine View), Nick Howard (Sandy. UT/Jordan) and Adam Ross (Torrance. CA/North Torrance ) before the game for their contributions to the Red Storm hoops program.

Join live coverage of the regular season finale with John Potter and Mike Olson on Classical 91.3 FM & online at Network1Sports.com.

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