Dixie State (4-3, 2-1 PacWest) hosts the third annual Las Vegas Challenge on Dec. 17-18, 2014 from the Orleans Arena. The Red Storm awaits two non-conference challenges from a pair of schools representing the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. On Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. PT, DSU will face Seattle Pacific (7-3) to close out day one. The next day (Dec. 18), Saint Martin's and the Storm close out the two-day tournament. The games will be broadcast on the Storm Basketball Network – ESPN SportsRadio 106.1 FM and SouthernUtahLive.com's audio feed.

The Red Storm opened PacWest play at home with an 88-77 victory over Fresno Pacific last Saturday. Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) notched 26 points on 12 of 14 shooting, falling just one point of his career-high. Mason Sawyer (West Jordan, UT/West Jordan) and DeQuan Thompson (Las Vegas, NV/Lake Mead Christian Academy) each added 13 points apiece. Unselfish team play led to 22 assists on 36 field goals with only six turnovers. 

Dixie State has won three of seven all-time meetings with Seattle Pacific including last year's 90-88 overtime victory on the Falcon's home court. The Storm has dropped both games to SPU played at the Burns, but is 3-2 in road and neutral court games. SPU and DSU have met twice in the NCAA Tournament and split (W, 75-73 in 2011; L, 70-68 in 2012). Against the Saints, Dixie State is 1-0 after winning on a neutral court, 77-60, in 2011. 

THREE THINGS – DIXIE STATE (4-3, 2-1 PWC)

1. Zac Hunter (American Fork, UT/American Fork) was named PacWest Freshman of the Week on Monday. Hunter scored eight points and grabbed three rebounds in Dixie State's win vs. Fresno Pacific. He made a career-high six free throws and improved his free throw percentage 81.3% (13-16).

2. Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) leads the PacWest per game in rebounds (9.6) and blocked shots (2.4). Nationally, he is 13th in blocks and 20th in rebounding.

3. The Red Storm is 3-1 all-time in the Las Vegas Challenge. In 2012, Dixie State defeated Central Oklahoma, but lost in the championship game to Pittsburg State. Last year, the Storm defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills and Montana State Billings to take the Challenge crown.

THREE THINGS – SEATTLE PACIFIC (7-3, 1-1 GNAC)

1. Two of the three Seattle Pacific losses this year have come against Pacific West Conference schools. The Falcons dropped their season opener at home, 70-67, to Academy of Art. A week later, SPU lost on the North Shore to BYU-Hawaii, 87-74. 

2. Three SPU players average double figures – Cory Hutson (17.0), Mitch Penner (13.2), Matt Borton (12.4). Penner was named GNAC PLayer of the Week after a double double (26 points, 11 rebounds) against George Fox.

3. Senior guard Riley Stockton is the nephew of NBA Hall of Famer John Stockton. Riley was the 2013 GNAC Defender of the Year.

THREE THINGS – SAINT MARTIN'S (3-6, 1-1 GNAC)

1. After a rough five-game opening stretch, the Saints have won three of their last four games. They split two games in GNAC play last week at home – a 75-68 overtime loss to Anchorage and a 67-64 win over Fairbanks.

2. Tyler Copp (10.8) and Trey Ingram (10.6) are the only Saints averaging double figures on the season. Ingram has bumped his average up to 16 points per game in GNAC contests. 

3. Saint Martin's has not shot 50 percent from the field in any of their nine games thus far. They are coming off their best shooting performance, 45 percent, on Dec. 6 against Fairbanks.

RETURNING FACES: This season's roster includes eight players with game experience or time on the practice squad - 

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 - 

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). 

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.