Dixie State (3-3, 1-1) returns home for the first time in over two weeks to continue Pacific West Conference play against Fresno Pacific (5-3, 1-1) on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 3:30 p.m. in the Burns Arena. The game will be broadcast on CEC-TV locally and available online via a per-per-view option. It will also be on the Storm Basketball Network – ESPN SportsRadio 106.1 FM and SouthernUtahLive.com's audio feed.

The Red Storm continued an early season trend by splitting their opening games in league play last weekend. Behind a Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) double-double and clutch defense down the stretch, DSU defeated Point Loma, 54-49. Two nights later, a career-high 23 points from Mason Sawyer (West Jordan, UT/West Jordan) was not enough as California Baptist defeated the Storm, 88-81.

Dixie State has won three straight from the Sunbirds after dropping the first meeting in the series back in 2012. Malcolm Griffin hit a baseline leaner on Dec. 8, 2012 to push FPU to an 82-80 win in Fresno. In two meetings at the Burns, Dixie State has won by an average of 19.5 points. 

Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) became the Dixie State Division II career-scoring leader with his first field goal on Nov. 28 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 (3-3, 1-1)

1. The Storm has won all three games in which they have led at the half (MSUB 43-20, CSUS 36-30, PLNU 30-24). They have lost all three games in which they have trailed at the half (WOU 32-24, TAMUC 39-31, CBU 38-37).

2. Dixie State has not won on Saturday so far this season. Texas A&M-Commerce and California Baptist have each clipped DSU over the past two Saturdays in Van Dyne Gym. In the Judkins era, the Storm is 64-29 in Saturday games.

3. DeQuan Thompson (Las Vegas, NV/Lake Mead Christian Academy) still is 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 – FRESNO PACIFIC (5-3, 1-1)

1. The Sunbirds like the 3-ball: FPU ranks first in the PacWest in makes (88) and attempts (216) and sits second in the league in 3FG% (.456) and 3FG made per game (11). 

2. FPU returns just two players from last year's squad – forward Trevon Clayton and guard Drew Packard. Clayton has averaged a double-double through nine games with 10.9 points and 10.7 rebounds. Packard has been limited to four games and 15 total minutes on the floor.

3. Shane Rinner is in his first year as head coach at FPU. Prior to joining the Sunbird, Rinner was Director of Operations for women's hoops at Fresno State. He has Division II experience as the head coach at Texas A&M-International from 2009-2012 and as an assistant at Alaska Anchorage.

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.

PACWEST HAS THREE IN THE TOP 25: Three PacWest teams are featured in the top-25 of this week's NABC Coaches Poll. BYU-Hawaii moved up seven spots to No. 16, California Baptist remained at No. 17 and Azusa Pacific made its debut at No. 24. Point Loma fell out of the top-25, but is still receiving votes.