Men's Basketball 2/12/2014 4:00:00 PM John Potter, Media Relations Assistant

[PREVIEW] Hoops homestand continues Thursday vs. Hilo

Dixie State to battle conference winless Vulcans in the Burns Arena

MEDIA INFORMATION
Date	Thurs., Feb. 13 \| 7:30 p.m. PT MT
Location	Burns Arena - St. George, UT
Tickets	Purchase Tickets
Radio	ESPN SportsRadio 106.1 FM \| Dixie State All-Access
Radio Talent	John Potter (play-by-play) Devin Dixon (analysis)
DSU Audio/ Video	Dixie State All-Access
DSU Live Stats	DSU Live Stats
Game Notes	Dixie State
Twitter	@DixieAthletics #DixieMBB
DIXIE STATE RED STORM
Record	17-4 / 11-4 PacWest
Ranking	RV (NABC)
Head Coach	Jon Judkins
	Career: 446-208 (20th year)
	DSU Record: 162-85 (9th year)
HAWAII HILO
Record	3-16 / 0-13 PacWest
Ranking	NR
Head Coach	GE Coleman
	Record at UHH: 3-16 (1st year)

DSU TO FACE FIREY UH HILO SQUAD: After a dramatic comeback over conference rival BYU-Hawaii, Dixie State hosts the UH Hilo Vulcans on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. Mountain from the Burns Arena. DSU (17-4/11-4 PacWest) has won two straight games and moved into second place in the Pacific West Conference standings. UH Hilo (3-16/0-13 PacWest) has lost 14 consecutive games, including a Feb. 7 loss at home to Chaminade, 86-83. Thursday's contest will air on the Red Storm Radio Network (SportsRadio 106.1 FM; DixieAthletics.com/Showcase) with John Potter and Devin Dixon calling the action. CEC-Television broadcasts, with Parker Cracroft and Kendall Prescott, are live on Baja Channel 22. Links for live stats and online video are available on DixieAthletics.com.

STORM RECEIVING VOTES: Dixie State moved up to No. 31 in the latest NABC Division II poll released Tuesday. There are five West Region teams in the Top 25 - Cal Baptist, CSU San Bernardino, Seattle Pacific, Cal Poly Pomona, Western Washington

LAST TIME OUT – STORM BEAT SEASIDERS IN OT: Louis Garrett (Saint George, UT/Pine View) (Saint George, UT) subbed out of Tuesday's home game against BYU-Hawaii with 12:26 left in the second half bleeding from a cut on his left eyebrow. Not knowing if he would return, Dixie State fell down by nine points. When "The Bonesaw" returned late in regulation, his 3-point basket at the buzzer capped off a 10-3 Dixie State run sending the game into overtime.

The Storm scored the first 10 points in extra time and defeated BYUH 107-94 to earn a critical league win over a determined conference rival.

The victory coupled with a 21-point road loss by Chaminade moves Dixie State (17-4/11-4 PacWest) into second place and potentially a first-round bye in the upcoming Pacific West Conference Tournament.

When asked if a late comeback was in the game plan, DSU head coach Jon Judkins scoffed sarcastically.

"Miss a lot of fouls shots, keep it close, have some turnovers, then hit a three to send it overtime … beautiful," Judkins said. "I thought the keys to the game were heart and 50/50 balls, we got two big offensive rebounds that led to a three."

The comeback was highlighted by six points, two rebounds and two timely steals from Garrett down the stretch. Down three with six seconds left, Kimball Payne (Alpine, UT/Lone Peak) (Alpine, UT) found Garrett coming off a high screen for the equalizer from the right wing.

Robbie Nielson (Gresham, OR/Barlow) (Gresham, OR) began overtime with a 3-pointer and Garrett found Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) (Upland, CA) open on the low block for a lay-in accounting for the first five points of a 10-0 opening salvo. Payne and Robbins iced away the game combining for 13 overtime points from the charity stripe.

A closely contested first half saw three lead changes before the home team carried a 46-44 lead into the locker room. DeQuan Thompson (Las Vegas, NV/Lake Mead Christian Academy) (Las Vegas, NV) scored five quick points in the second half forcing BYU-Hawaii (11-10/9-6) into a timeout. The Seasiders responded after the short respite with a 13-1 spurt culminating in a five-point lead.

DSU would knot the game shortly, but timely outside shots and free throws ballooned the BYUH lead to 83-74 with 2:27 left. Luke Aston led the Seasiders with a double double (21 points, 11 rebounds) and Tyler Tuilau netted a career-high 19 points.

Dixie State had five in double figures paced by the 13th double double of the year from Robbins (21 points, 11 rebounds). Nielson posted his third straight career-high with 19 points, Payne scored 18 for his best night in a DSU uniform, and Thompson added 18 points as well. Garrett had 16 points in 15 minutes of action.

THE TEAM:
THE RETURNERS:
> Landon Clegg (Cedar Hills, UT/Lone Peak), a 6-4 combo guard/forward, is back for his senior season after missing last year rehabbing a knee injury. The Cedar Hills, Utah, native was the 2007 PacWest Freshman of the Year.
> Dalton Groskreutz (Santa Clara, UT/Snow Canyon), the 6-6 forward from Santa Clara, Utah, returns for his senior season after having a great junior campaign. He averaged 11.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists for the season while shooting 80-percent from the charity stripe. Groskreutz was a second-team all-PacWest honoree.
> Robbie Nielson (Gresham, OR/Barlow), the 6-4 guard from Gresham, Ore., played 12 games for Dixie State last year. He averaged 1.5 points per game.
> Curtis Papenfuss (Happy Valley, OR/Clackamas), a 6-8 forward from Happy Valley, Ore., appeared in 27 of the 28 DSU games last year. Papenfuss had a season-high 20 points off the bench at Azusa Pacific.
> Kimball Payne (Alpine, UT/Lone Peak), a 6-0 senior from Alpine, Utah, is expected to be the returning starter at point guard for Dixie State. Payne ranked third in the PacWest with 5.0 assists per game.
> Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland), the 6-10 combo forward/center from Upland, Calif., was selected as the Pacific West Conference Preseason Player of the Year. He is the DSU all-time leader in rebounds and blocked shots.
> DeQuan Thompson (Las Vegas, NV/Lake Mead Christian Academy), the 6-2 shooting guard from Las Vegas, expects to crack the starting lineup this year. Thompson finished last year strong to post a 9.2-point per game average.
> Braden Saunders (Morgan, UT/Morgan), the 6-3 guard from Morgan, Utah, returns to DSU after serving a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He redshirted for the Storm prior to his mission.

THE NEWCOMERS:
> Nate Ensign (American Fork, UT/American Fork), a 6-9 center, is a true freshman from American Fork, Utah. Ensign just returned from a mission.
> Louis Garrett (Saint George, UT/Pine View), the 6-6 senior forward from St. George, transferred from San Jose State. Garrett averaged 6.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in mainly a reserve role for the Spartans last year.
> Jordan Rex (Saint George, UT/Pine View), the 6-9 hometown product from St. George, will play center for the Red Storm. Last year, Rex redshirted at Weber State.
> Mason Sawyer (West Jordan, UT/West Jordan), the 5-10 sophomore guard from West Jordan, Utah, will likely start the season backing up Payne at point guard. Sawyer signed to play at Boise State after a stellar career at West Jordan HS. He transferred to Snow College before embarking on a church mission.

• HAWAI'I HILO VULCANS

> Hawai'i Hilo, under first-year head coach G.E. Coleman, has a 3-16 record overall and is winless (0-13) in Pacific West Conference play. UH Hilo took an undermanned Chaminade team to the limit, losing 86-83 on Feb. 7.

> The Vulcans were selected to finish 11th out of 13 teams in the PacWest preseason coaches vote.

> UH Hilo is led in scoring by guard Joey Rodriguez averaging 14.1 points per game. Darnell Williams is second on the scoring list at 12.1 PPG. Senior forward Brandon Thomas paces the Vulcans with 7.1 rebounds a contest.

> Coleman was a longtime assistant at Central Washington University under Greg Sparling before being hired at UH Hilo this past year.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS
1/17/09   Dixie State 87, Hawaii Hilo 78
2/7/09      Hawaii Hilo 96, Dixie State 88 (OT)
2/14/10   Dixie State 79, Hawaii Hilo 76
3/4/10      Dixie State 80, Hawaii Hilo 48
2/17/11   Dixie State 94, Hawaii Hilo 73
3/5/11      Dixie State 85, Hawaii Hilo 68
1/24/12   Dixie State 88, Hawaii Hilo 73
1/30/12   Dixie State 83, Hawaii Hilo 76
12/1/12   Dixie State 82, Hawaii Hilo 64
1/2/14      Dixie State 79, Hawaii Hilo 74 (OT)

LAST TIME vs. HILO, 2014: Junior guard DeQuan Thompson (Las Vegas, NV/Lake Mead Christian Academy) (Las Vegas, NV) hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 28 second remaining in regulation en route to a career-high 23 points and junior forward Zach Robbins (Upland, CA/Upland) (Upland, CA) posted his fifth double-double of the year leading seventh ranked Dixie State to a 79-74 win in overtime against Hawai'i Hilo.

Thompson went 7-of-10 from the floor with three triples while Robbins matched Thompson's point total and pulled down 10 rebounds to keep the Red Storm undefeated on the year (10-0) and in Pacific West Conference action (4-0). UH Hilo dropped to 3-8, 0-5 PacWest despite two big runs to take substantial leads.

Dixie State opened on an 11-2 spurt behind two Thompson shots from distance. The lead expanded to 25-15 before the Vulcans closed out the final 8:32 of the opening half on a 24-14 run to lead 39-35 at the half.

Hilo pushed the lead up to eight points, 50-42, within five minutes. The Storm chipped away with a Robbins jumper and free throws from Dalton Groskreutz (Santa Clara, UT/Snow Canyon) (Santa Clara, UT) and Thompson. Another close shot from the senior forward gave DSU its first lead of the half. A 3-ball on the next possession from Mason Sawyer (West Jordan, UT/West Jordan) (West Jordan, UT) slid the lead to two, 56-54.

Down three in the final minute, Robbins spun a shot off the glass. Hilo's Derek Owens cashed in two free throws with 36 seconds. Thompson connected with the equalizer from the right wing off a great pass from Kimball Payne (Alpine, UT/Lone Peak) (Alpine, UT). A late jumper from Joey Rodriguez was on line, but failed to draw iron sending the matchup to overtime.

DSU opened the extra period with five unanswered points – a thunderous Robbins dunk, one Kimball Payne (Alpine, UT/Lone Peak) free throw and a jumper from Groskreutz. The teams traded buckets over the final three minutes. DSU cashed home victory with two late icing free throws from Thompson.

Groskreutz had 10 points to round out three DSU players scoring in double figures. Jordan Rex (Saint George, UT/Pine View) pulled down nine rebounds helping the Storm dominate the battle of the boards, 51-35. Dixie State finished 27-of-59 from the floor (45.8 percent) and won despite a lackluster 20-of-36 (55.6 percent) night from the line.

Rodriguez scored 16 points to lead four Vulcan players in double figures.

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