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Dixie State opens the regular season with a non-conference game against the Yellowjackets of Montana State-Billings on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2014 at the Burns Arena. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. MT.
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The Red Storm are coming off a 21-7 season in 2013-14 that culminated with the team's fifth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division II West Regional. Two starters return from last year's squad - seniors
DeQuan Thompson (Las Vegas, NV/Lake Mead Christian Academy) and
Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland).
Head coach
Jon Judkins will be sidelined for the first two games of the year, serving a school-imposed suspension.
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Tuesday's game continues a rivalry with the Yellowjackets that has seen at least one match-up between the squads every year since 2009.
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Dixie State averaged 84.9 points per game last year, the highest per game average in the Red Storm's NCAA tenure. Previously, the 2012-13 squad held the top spot posting 78.6 points per game.
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MSU Billings played in the Penguin Preseason Conference Challenge against two teams from the CCAA. The Yellowjackets are 0-2 after a 86-80 loss to Cal State East Bay and a 75-68 defeat to Cal State Stanslaus.
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STORM AND JACKETS RENEW RIVALRY: Dixie State plays Montana State-Billings for the sixth consecutive year in Tuesday's season opener for the Red Storm in the Burns Arena. Dixie State returns two starters and three other letterwinners from last year's NCAA Tournament squad. The Storm added depth with two transfers from Division I programs, two junior college transfers and two true freshmen to the active roster. DSU won its lone exhibition against Arizona Christian, 76-63, on Oct. 28. MSUB returns All-GNAC preseason selection Austin Hudson to a squad that looks for a repeat appearance in the conference tournament. Jaime Stevens is in his fourth year as head coach for the Yellowjackets.Â
RETURNING FACES: This season's roster includes eight players with game experience or time on the practice squad -Â
Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) - 15.8 PPG, 9.5 RPG as a PacWest 1st team selection - 17 double doubles
DeQuan Thompson (Las Vegas, NV/Lake Mead Christian Academy) - 14.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, .453 3FG% as a 2nd Team All-PacWest pick
Jordan Rex (Saint George, UT/Pine View) - 6.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG - 3 double doubles
Mason Sawyer (West Jordan, UT/West Jordan) - 7.1 PPG, 2.6 APG as the backup point guard
Robbie Nielson (Gresham, OR/Barlow) - 6.0 PPG, 3.1 RPG as a reserve guard and forward
Braden Saunders (Morgan, UT/Morgan) - played in 11 games, scored seven points
Ryan Graves (Huntsville, UT/Weber) - missed season due to injury
Sterling Brandley (Ogden, UT/Ben Lomand) - redshirted, member of the practice squad
STORM NEWCOMERS: Six players will wear the Dixie State jersey for the first time this season -Â
Collin Woods (Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon) - 7.8 PPG, 1.5 RPG, .767 FT% at Salt Lake Community College last season - played as a freshman at UC Irvine
Connor Van Brocklin (Fruit Heights, UT/Davis) - 1.8 PPG in seven games last year at the University of Utah
Mark Ogden Jr. (Spring Valley, CA/Steele Canyon) - Pacific Coast Conference 2nd Team at Grossmont College - 14.9 PPG, 10.2 RPG
Zac Hunter (American Fork, UT/American Fork) - returned missionary freshman from American Fork HS - 12 PPG, 5 RPG as a senior
Trevor Hill (Sandy, UT/Alta) - Deseret News Utah 5A 2nd Team last year - 11.2 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 5.5 APG (No. 1 in 5A)
Anthony Morris (Mesquite, NV/Virgin Valley) - transfer from Snow College - 6.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, .519 FG%
ROBBINS PRESEASON SPORTING NEWS ALL-AMERICAN: Senior forward/center Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) was named to the Sporting News NCAA Division II All-American Second Team. Robbins becomes the first Storm player to earn such a prestigious honor. He was a PacWest First Team selection in 2013-14 and earned two West Region nods (Daktronics/NABC). Robbins is currently fourth on the DSU all-time scoring list with 1,016 points (36 behind Ryan Sanchez at No. 1), first in rebounding by a margin of 236 boards, and first in blocked shots with 148.
PACWEST PRESEASON NEWS: The Dixie State men's basketball team has been chosen second in the Pacific West Conference preseason coaches poll, as announced by the league office on Tuesday. Senior forward/center Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) (Upland, CA/Upland) secured a spot on the Preseason All-PacWest Team for the second consecutive year. Defending league champion California Baptist was selected first, securing nine of 13 possible first-place votes. The Red Storm and Dominican, picked to finish sixth, each garnered one first-place vote. Third-place Chaminade received two first-place votes BYU-Hawaii was tabbed fourth, and Azusa Pacific fifth in the vote. Rounding out the league's remaining seven, in order, were Point Loma, Hawaii Pacific, Fresno Pacific, Academy of Art, Notre Dame de Namur, Hawaii Hilo and Holy Names. Robbins was a PacWest 1st Team All-Conference selection last year and garnered West Region recognition by the coaches and sports information directors. He was named the Preseason Player of the Year in 2013-14 and backed it up with a stellar season averaging 15.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while posting 17 double doubles.
