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Utah Tech University Athletics

Sawyer layin at PLNU
Stan Plewe/Utah Tech Athletics
54
Winner Dixie State DX-MBB 3-2, 1-0 PacWest
49
Point Loma PLNU-MBB 5-1, 0-1 PacWest
Winner
Dixie State DX-MBB
3-2, 1-0 PacWest
54
Final
49
Point Loma PLNU-MBB
5-1, 0-1 PacWest
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Dixie State DX-MBB 30 24 54
Point Loma PLNU-MBB 24 25 49

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | John Potter, Media Relations Assistant

Red Storm wins PacWest opener, 54-49, over No. 22 PLNU

Robbins paces with double double in league win

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) scored 18 points and ripped down 10 rebounds helping Dixie State to a 54-49 road win over No. 22 Point Loma in the Pacific West Conference opener for both schools.
 
The Red Storm's all-time leading scorer netted half of his points from the free throw line and, for the second consecutive game, swatted away five shots.
 
DeQuan Thompson (Las Vegas, NV/Lake Mead Christian Academy) added 15 points making 6 of 8 shots from the floor and Mason Sawyer (West Jordan, UT/West Jordan) tallied 11 points, five rebounds and five assists playing a team-high 34 minutes for Dixie State (3-2, 1-0 PacWest).
 
"I was so proud of how hard we played," head coach Jon Judkins said. "We made a lot of mistakes that we can't do, but they fought so hard to win."
 
Judd Welfringer paced Point Loma (5-1, 0-1) with 11 points, including a trio of 3-pointers.
 
Dixie State held the lead for over 18 minutes in the first half beginning with slim leads. A 16-3 run midway through the half gave the Storm a 30-14 lead. Robbins had eight points during the string from the charity stripe while Sawyer and Thompson each drained triples. Thompson capped the rally with a steal and lay-in at the 5:03 mark, DSU's last field goal of the half.
 
The Sea Lions chipped away over the final five minutes, cutting the Dixie State lead to 30-24 at the break.
 
PLNU's 14-7 spurt to open the second half gave them their first lead, 38-37. Hayden Lescault added a 3-ball with 13:18 on the clock for a 41-39 advantage.
 
A Robbins' jumper knotted up the game again and dueling threes from Thompson and Welfringer continued the stalemate at 44-44. Dixie State opened a four-point advantage from the line with makes from Robbins and Sawyer.
 
Despite multiple good looks at the rim, the PLNU shots would not fall. The Sea Lions got within two, 48-46, but back-to-back lay-ups pushed the DSU lead to six.
 
Up three in the final minute, Sawyer was forced to pull-up from 19 feet as the shot clock dwindled. His shot ripped the net for a five-point lead. Two looks from PLNU missed to close out a win for the Storm in a hotly contested, physical battle.
 
Both teams were held below their season averages in points per game and field goal percentage. Dixie State shot 39.5 percent (17-43) from the floor and 40 percent (4-10) from distance. The Storm had a 34-27 advantage on the boards and took advantage of 19 PLNU turnovers that led to 25 points.
 
"This was a good win against a very good team," Judkins added. "We challenged our guys to get better and we need to be focused for every game."
 
Dixie State continues their road trip Saturday against another ranked team, the No. 17 Lancers of California Baptist. Tip from Van Dyne Gym is at 7 p.m. PT. 

 
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