Dixie State (2-2) opens its Pacific West Conference schedule on the road this week against No. 22 Point Loma (5-0) on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. PT and No. 17 California Baptist (5-1) on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. PT. Both games will be broadcast on the Storm Basketball Network – ESPN SportsRadio 106.1 FM and SouthernUtahLive.com.

The Red Storm split a pair of games last weekend at the Ayres Thanksgiving Classic, hosted by CBU. DSU defeated Cal State Stanislaus, 76-54, and lost to Texas A&M-Commerce, 74-64.

Dixie State has a winning record overall in the all-time series against both Point Loma and California Baptist despite splitting regular-season games last season, with each team holding home court. Dixie State has won three of four meetings with the Sea Lions and five out of six from the Lancers. 

Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) became the Dixie State Division II career-scoring leader with his first field goal last Friday against Cal State Stanislaus. The Upland, Calif., senior passed Ryan Sanchez in his 86th game for Dixie State with a layup in the opening minutes against the Warriors.

THREE THINGS – DIXIE STATE (2-2)

1. In four games, Dixie State has seen four different leading scorers: Mason Sawyer (West Jordan, UT/West Jordan) (career-high tying 18 vs. MSUB), Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) (20 vs. WOU), DeQuan Thompson (Las Vegas, NV/Lake Mead Christian Academy) (17 vs. CSUS) and Mark Ogden Jr. (Spring Valley, CA/Steele Canyon) (16 vs. TAMUC).

2. The Red Storm will play only three more at the Burns Arena in the 2014 calendar year – Dec. 13 vs. Fresno Pacific, Dec. 20 vs. Holy Names, and Dec. 31 vs. Academy of Art. Fourteen of the Storm's 26-game slate will be away from their home court.

3. DeQuan Thompson (Las Vegas, NV/Lake Mead Christian Academy) has been the only DSU player to score in double figures in every game this year while Mason Sawyer (West Jordan, UT/West Jordan) is the only player to record at least one assist in every game.

THREE THINGS – #22 POINT LOMA (5-0)

1. The Sea Lions are coming off a road statement win over a nationally ranked team last Saturday, 62-60 at Cal Poly Pomona. All-PacWest preseason selection Hayden Lescault had the game-winning layup with 2.5 seconds left to push PLNU to a 5-0 record.

2. Through five games, six PLNU players are averaging 7.0 points or better, led by senior forward Junior Morgan at 12.8 points per game. Senior forward Sam Okhotin has been lethal from behind the arc, connecting on 16 of 24 attempts.

3. Eight of the first 10 games, including Thursday's league opener, for PLNU will be at home. 

THREE THINGS – #17 CALIFORNIA BAPTIST (5-1)

1. The Lancers split games at their own Thanksgiving tournament last weekend – dropping a 68-67 decision to Texas A&M-Commerce before cruising to an 80-53 win over Cal State Stanislaus. Trevone Williams notched a double double in the loss to the Lions while five players scored in double figures against the Warriors. 

2. PacWest Preseason Player of the Year Ryan Berg leads CBU in scoring through six games, averaging 15.2 points per game. He has one 20-point game, Nov. 15 against Cal State Monterey Bay.

3. Like Point Loma, CBU has enjoyed playing at home to open the year. Their opening eight games will be inside Van Dyne Gym. The Lancers don't hit the road for the first time until a Bay Area trip beginning Dec. 16.

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

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.