[PREVIEW] Storm hits Sin City for Las Vegas Challenge

Dixie State hosts two-day tourney at Orleans Arena

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Dixie State (6-3, 3-1 PWC) vs. Central Missouri (5-2, 1-1 MIAA)
Game Details	Tuesday, Dec. 18 \| Las Vegas, NV \| 8:30 p.m. MST Orleans Arena
Game Coverage	TV: None \| Radio: ESPN SportsRadio \| 1210AM and 107.3/102.3 FM Dixie State All Access: Audio and Video Live Stats: Red Storm Live Stats Twitter: @DixieAthletics #DSCmbb
Dixie State Links	Notes \| Roster \| Schedule
UCM Links	Notes \| Roster \| Schedule

Dixie State vs. Pittsburg State
Game Details	Wednesday, Dec. 19 \| Las Vegas, NV \| 7:30 p.m. MST Orleans Arena
Game Coverage	TV: None \| Radio: ESPN SportsRadio \| 1210AM and 107.3/102.3 FM Dixie State All Access: Audio and Video Live Stats: Red Storm Live Stats Twitter: @DixieAthletics #DSCmbb
Dixie State Links	Notes \| Roster \| Schedule
PSU Links	Notes \| Roster \| Schedule

SIN CITY CHALLENGE: Dixie State College hosts the first annual Las Vegas Challenge on December 18-19 from the Orleans Arena. A pair of teams from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association await the Red Storm. On Tuesday, DSC opens with Central Missouri at 7:30 p.m. Pacific (8:30 p.m. MST). The following night, Pittsburg State lines up with the Storm at 6:30 p.m. Pacific (7:30 p.m. MST) Wednesday.

STORM WATCH: DSC is 6-3 on the season and 3-1 in the PacWest after defeating the Sea Lions of Point Loma, 68-58, at the Burns Arena on Saturday. The point total allowed by PLNU was the most by an opponent this season in regualtion - they allowed 68 to San Diego Christian in an overtime game.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: The matchups with UCM and PSU will be first-ever meetings. They will mark the third and fourth straight games respectively against first-time opponents (Fresno Pacific, Point Loma).

LAST TIME OUT: Steven Larson (South Jordan, UT/Copper Hills) (South Jordan, UT/Copper Hills) dedicated his past offseason to improving on the court and playing a more prominent role in the Dixie State system. Saturday night, the junior from South Jordan proved the efforts off the parquet have played dividends this season.

Larson scored 23 points leading the Red Storm to a 68-58 victory over Point Loma Nazarene, improving the team's record to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in Pacific West Conference play.

The stellar performance included hitting half his shots from the field (6-of-12) and knocking home 11-of-14 attempts from the free-throw line, obliterating his previous single-game totals in both statistical categories (four makes, six tries respectively).

“Steve was hungry and wanted the ball inside,” head coach Jon Judkins said. “That was our game plan tonight. Our posts could be really good if we sit down and get big.”

Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) (Upland, CA/Upland) added 12 points and nine rebounds. Dalton Groskreutz (Santa Clara, UT/Snow Canyon) (Santa Clara, UT/Snow Canyon) had 10 points while Kimball Payne (Alpine, UT/Lone Peak) (Alpine, UT/Lone Peak) ripped down a career-high six rebounds.

True to the nature of Point Loma's (2-6, 0-2 PWC) scheme, the Princeton offense kept the scoring low in the first half. Larson had 11 of the Red Storm's first 19 points – scored over the first 13 minutes of the first half. Concurrently, the Sea Lions struggled from behind the arc, making just one of 16 attempts, to trail DSC 28-20 at the break.

“I thought we did a good job for about 35 minutes defending their stuff, the Princeton stuff,” Judkins said. “For about five minutes, we got lazy and stood up and they hit some open three's.”

Dixie State used an opening 13-5 run in the second half to lead by 16, 41-25. PLNU's Judd Welfringer attempted to single-handedly bring the Sea Lions back. His 20-point second half was highlighted by deep triples cutting the Dixie State lead to nine at the 13:20 mark.

Timely Larson lay-ins and 19 opportunities from the free-throw line allowed DSC to keep separation from Point Loma.
Arren Wells joined Welfringer in double figures with 10 points.

Dixie State was held below their season average from the field (22-48, 45.8 percent), but flourished from the line (22-of-28). The Storm would the battle of the boards 36-30 and outran PLNU 16-0 in the fast break.

LARSON, ROBBINS FANTASTIC AGAIN: A duo of big men were named to the Week Six version of the Pacific West Conference Fantastic 15 - Steven Larson (South Jordan, UT/Copper Hills) and Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland).

Steven Larson (South Jordan, UT/Copper Hills) (Jr., 6-8, 240, F/C, South Jordan, UT/Copper Hills) – Dixie State – scored 23 points in a 68-58 PacWest win vs. Point Loma on Dec. 15 – the lone game of the week for the Red Storm…shot 78.5% (11 for 14) from the line…made 50.0% (6 for 12) of attempts from the field…grabbed five rebounds.
It is the second Fantastic 15 honor for Larson. He earned his first after scoring 25 points on the road at Montana State-Billings on November 16.

Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) (So., 6-10, 200, F/C, Upland, CA/Upland) – Dixie State – scored 12 points, collected nine rebounds and had two steals while shooting 50.0% (5 for 10) from the floor in a 68-58 PacWest win vs. Point Loma on Dec. 15 – the lone game of the week for the Red Storm…went 2 for 2 at the line.

Robbins had been the two-time defending PWC Player of the Week. Like Larson, it is the second appearance on the Fantastic 15 for Robbins. He was spotlighted for his work over the Thanksgiving weekend during the Storm's trip to Grand Junction.

Player of the Week honors went to Killian Larson of Grand Canyon. Larson led the Antelopes to a 71-61 NCAA II West Region win over Montana State Billings on Dec. 14 – their lone game of the week. He scored 22 points, grabbed five rebounds and shot 81.8% (9 for 11) from the field in leading GCU to the victory.

• CENTRAL MISSOURI MULES
> The Mules are 5-2 on the year and improved to 1-1 in the MIAA with a 72-65 win over Emporia State on Dec. 8.

> Senior forward Dominique Long leads UCM averaging 12.9 points per game. The team shoots 45% from the field and 32% from the arc.

> Kim Anderson is in his 11th season at Central Missouri. He has guided the Mules to two Final Fours, four MIAA Regular Season championships, three MIAA Tournament titles.

• PITTSBURG STATE GORILLAS
> The Gorillas are 7-1 on the year and 2-0 in the MIAA after knocking off Lindewood in double overtime, 85-79, on Dec. 8.

> Freshman guard Kaleb Porter paces the Gorillas with 17.8 points per game. PSU is the highest scoring team entering the Challenge at 81.4 points per game.

> Kevin Muff enters his third year as head basketball coach at Pittsburg State University. Muff has compiled a 37-28 (.526) record in his tenure. He led the Gorillas to a 17-14 record and a berth in the finals of the MIAA Postseason Tournament in 2012.

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