Red Storm wins close at WOU, Groskreutz tabs career-high

No. 15 DSU wins in Monmouth, 78-74

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MONMOUTH, Ore. – Expect the best from every time from here until the end of the season.

Dalton Groskreutz scored a career-high 23 points and Zach Robbins posted his 14^th career double-double on Saturday afternoon as the nationally ranked Red Storm narrowly defeated Western Oregon 78-74 in non-conference action.

Dixie State, the 15^th-ranked team in the NABC Division-II Poll, committed 20 turnovers and shot under 50 percent from the floor but prevailed to remain undefeated at 4-0 on the year. The Wolves played extremely tough and cut numerous DSU leads during the game, but eventually fell to 2-3 on the season.

Groskreutz connected on seven of nine shots on the night, including a 3-pointer ahead of the first half buzzer, en route to 23 points. He added five rebounds, one steal and an assist. Robbins notched 12 points and a season-best 15 rebounds.

On the Groskreutz triple, Dixie State led 43-39 at halftime. The Red Storm extended the lead to as many as eight points and never trailed despite the Wolves tying the game at 57-57 with 9:44 left.

Dixie State responded with a critical 8-0 run. Jordan Rex ignited the run with a lay-up and Mason Sawyer (West Jordan, UT/West Jordan) connected from deep. After misses on both ends, Robbins took a pass from Sawyer at the top of the circle with one second on the shot clock. His triple try to beat the buzzer clanged off the back glass and straight through the net for a 65-57 Storm lead.

The DSU lead stood at seven at the final media timeout, but Western Oregon shaved the lead to one on a pair of occasions. Groskreutz pushed the advantage back to three on a wide-open lay-up in the middle of the key.

The Wolves had a chance to take the lead down two in the final moments. A 3-pointer try by Lewis Thomas failed to hit the rim giving DSU the ball. Groskreutz was fouled and calmly sank two foul shots to set the final margin.

DeQuan Thompson and Louis Garrett added 12 points each for Dixie State. Jordan Rex (Saint George, UT/Pine View) ripped down nine rebounds for the third straight game while Sawyer led the Storm with three assists.

DSU shot 51 percent from the floor in the first half, but was stymied to 41 percent in the final 20 minutes. The Red Storm finished 27-of-58 for the night (46.4 percent). A decided free-throw attempt advantage allowed Dixie State to outscore the Wolves 20-6 from the line.

Mirza Sabic led Western Oregon off the bench with 18 points.

Dixie State returns home next Saturday, Nov. 30, for the final in-season exhibition of the year against Pacifica College. It will be the final tune-up before the Red Storm embarks on Pacific West Conference play beginning Dec. 5 against Notre Dame de Namur. Tip from the Burns Arena against the Gladiators is set for 7:30 p.m.

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