Jones and Jensen Lead Storm Surge

Dixie State sweeps SF trip by beating NDNU 71-60

Jones leads the way with 18 points in DSC sweeping win

BELMONT, Calif. (January 22) – A pair of juniors paced Dixie State College on Saturday against Notre Dame de Namur University in a Pacific West Conference matinee. Griffon Jones (Cheney, WA/Cheney) had a team-high 18 points and Solomon Jensen (Centerville, UT/Viewmont) tacked on 13 more for the Red Storm in a 71-60 road victory at Walter Gleason Gymnasium.

Jones hit nine-of-11 shots from the floor, pulled down five rebounds and swiped three steals while establishing a dominating presence in the post.

“Griff played hard. This was the first time I have seen him want the ball,” head coach Jon Judkins said. “We saw some things inside on tape and he did a good job taking advantage.”

Jensen matched Jones with five boards on the afternoon.

Senior guard Jeremiah Barnes (Compton, CA/Los Altos) led Dixie State (10-4, 3-1 PWC) with six rebounds. He completed a solid effort adding seven points and seven assists. Donovan Plunkett (Oroville, CA/Las Plumas) had 11 points knocking down a couple of three-pointers.

Both teams flip-flopped the lead in the first half. NDNU (3-13, 1-5 PWC) looked poised to take a halftime lead into the locker room posting a 27-23 score at the 3:32 mark. The Red Storm ended the period on a 12-0 run capped by one of Plunkett's triples for a 35-27 advantage.

Judkins added, “That run changed the whole game. We were really active and changed defenses to keep them off balance. It led to easy baskets.”

The second half began with seven straight scores with each team alternating buckets. NDNU's Tyler Fricke scored four points in a eight-point spurt cutting the Dixie State lead to two. The margin remained at two with 11:22 remaining when the Storm opened up a cushion. Jensen had a jumper and a tip-in in a stretch of 10 straight points making the score 57-49.

The Argos would rally to cut the lead to four with 1:26 left, but the strategy to Hack-A-Storm backfired. Dixie State hit eight fouls shots to ice away the game.

Jeff Ford led NDNU with 18 points and Fricke added 13.

Dixie State outshot the Argonauts 50-percent to 38-percent, won the rebounding battle by five and had assists on 21 of the team's 27 field goals.

The Red Storm returns home on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. for a big conference match-up with defending league champion BYU-Hawaii.

NOTES: Judkins earned his 375th career coaching win --- in 17 years; the head coach sports a 375-189 record (.663)… With seven assists, Barnes pulled even with former DSC point guard Adam Ross (Torrance. CA/North Torrance ) for third on the career assists list… Dixie State completed their second road sweep of the San Francisco schools in as many years.

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