After playing its last six games on the road, Dixie State returns home Thursday night to face Bristol University in an exhibition game in the Burns Arena at 7:30 p.m.

The Storm (4-4/1-1 PacWest) are coming off a split of their first two Pacific West Conference games last week in southern California. DSU opened league play on a sour note as the Storm dropped an 88-77 decision at preseason PacWest favorite and nationally-ranked California Baptist this past Thursday in Riverside. Senior Mark Ogden Jr. (Spring Valley, Calif./Steele Canyon HS) led the way with a season-high of 18 points and 11 rebounds. The senior hit nine of his 13 shots and had two assists and a block in 35 minutes. Sophomore Trevor Hill (Sandy, Utah/Alta HS) finished with 19 points, including 9-of-12 from the line, while junior Josh Fuller (Rexburg, Idaho/Madison HS) had 11 points and seven boards, and senior Mason Sawyer (West Jordan, Utah/West Jordan HS) chipped in 10 points. ??

Dixie State followed that up by claiming a thrilling 66-65 victory at Point Loma last Saturday in San Diego. Trailing by a point with the ball and 21 seconds on the clock, Hill drove to the basket, hung in the air, and scooped a shot off the window. The shot rimmed out, but sophomore forward Kyler Nielson (Cedar City, Utah/Cedar HS) was there to score the go-ahead tip-in with 4.3 seconds remaining. Point Loma guard Mike Planeta drove the length of the floor for a layup, but Fuller was there to block the attempt to seal the win. Ogden Jr., who was named PacWest Defender of the Week on Monday, racked up his third double-double in four games with 12 points and a career-high 17 boards, while Fuller posted his first double-double with a career-high 14 points and 12 rebounds. Hill, who has scored in double figures in all eight of DSU's games this season, led the Storm with 16 points and Sawyer poured in 12.

ABOUT THE BRISTOL UNIVERSITY "BEARS": Bristol University has played to an 0-6 so far this season with losses last week to PacWest member Fresno Pacific (72-70) and a 101-62 setback at Wyoming last month. The Bears, who will play at SUU on Saturday, are led by senior guard Tade Keshishyan who averages 13.8 points and 3.8 rebounds a game.

UP NEXT: Dixie State opens the home portion of its 2015-16 PacWest slate and close out the calendar year against Azusa Pacific next Saturday, Dec. 19, at 3:30 p.m., before ringing in New Year with a home date against Chaminade on Tuesday, January 5, at 7:30 p.m. Both games will be played in the Burns Arena.