Men's Basketball 12/7/2013 11:23:00 PM John Potter, Media Relations Assistant

Storm beats Fresno Pacific, 85-80

DSU remains undefeated at 6-0, 2-0 in league

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FRESNO, Calif. – Louis Garrett (Saint George, UT) scored 17 points and Zach Robbins (Upland, CA) notched his 15^th career double-double to lead No. 10 Dixie State past Fresno Pacific, 85-80, in Pacific West Conference play on Saturday night.

Dixie State improved to 6-0 on the season, its best start since joining the NCAA ranks in 2006, and 2-0 in the PacWest. The Red Storm avenged an early league loss to the Sunbirds (5-4, 0-1) 364 days ago with the five-point victory.

Garrett hit four 3-pointers in 24 minutes off the bench and had a momentum swinging steal and lay-in with 55 seconds left in regulation to put DSU up three. Robbins only hit four of 12 shots from the floor, but corralled 15 rebounds in his double-double effort

DeQuan Thompson (Las Vegas, NV) added 15 points including a driving lay-up during the Red Storm's closing 9-2 run. Kimball Payne (Alpine, UT) had 14 points and six assists while Dalton Groskreutz (Santa Clara, UT) added 14 points and four rebounds.

Dixie State trailed early in the first half, but took the lead for the first time on a Mason Sawyer (West Jordan, UT) triple midway through the first half. Minutes later, the Red Storm built a 33-25 lead after a 9-0 spurt thanks to 3-pointer from Thompson and Payne. The DSU lead got as high as 10 before the road team settled for a halftime advantage of 46-38.

The Sunbirds wasted no time in the second half cutting Dixie State's lead to one, 52-51, but the Storm responded with a 6-0 run to build the advantage back to seven points. FPU kept close and regained the lead over a four-minute period outscoring DSU 12-2. Jackson Carbajal nailed a deep shot to give FPU a 78-76 lead with 1:11 left.

In the final minute, Payne began the charge with a driving lay-in and was fouled. His free throw put DSU up, 79-78. Storm coach Jon Judkins called time to set up his defensive scheme; it turns out he did not need it. Garrett stole the inbounds pass after the break and kissed a short shot off the glass. Malcolm Griffin responded for FPU with a jumper.

Groskreutz dished a perfect pass to Thompson driving to the bucket for another lay-up for a 83-80 lead. Griffin lifted a potential equalizer from outside that deflected off the rim and into the hands off Robbins, who was immediately fouled. Two crucial fouls shots later; DSU had a large enough cushion for victory.

Griffin led the way for Fresno Pacific with 23 points. Trevon Clayon added 18 points.

Dixie State shot a season-low 41.4 percent (29-70) from the floor, but wrangled 20 offensive rebounds. The Red Storm finished the game 8-of-17 from distance (47.1 percent) and connected on 19-of-24 shots from the charity stripe (79.2 percent).

After playing five of the first six games away from home, Dixie State opens its home conference slate next Saturday, Dec. 14, with a 3:30 p.m. tip against Point Loma, following the Red Storm's women game.

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