Game Notes: DIXIE STATE - PDF | SUU
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OPENING TIP: Dixie State (3-0/0-0 WAC) returns to action this Thursday night, Dec. 17, as the Trailblazers head north on Interstate 15 to Cedar City for a date at in-state foe Southern Utah (4-1). Tip-off inside the America First Event Center (5,300) is set for 7 p.m.

DIXIE STATE VS. SOUTHERN UTAH: Despite being separated by 54 total miles, Thursday night's game at SUU will be the first-ever meeting between the Trailblazers and Thunderbirds on the basketball court in the NCAA era. Thursday's game will also be the first between the two programs since the 1962-63 season, when both competed in the junior college ranks.

DIXIE STATE ON THE AIR: All Dixie State Division I home and away games this season will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio 97.7 FM. Devin Dixon will call the play-by-play action on Thursday night, with Andy Thompson providing color commentary.
    Along with the radio coverage, all DSU home games are simulcast on KCEC-TV (TDS Cable Channel 22), with tape-delay rebroadcasts throughout the following week, and live online on the WAC Digital Network. The WDN is also available on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, and Roku TV, while the WDN app is available for iOS in the Apple Store and Android on Google Play.

HI, MY NAME IS ....: After 14 years as a competing member of the NCAA at the Division II level, Dixie State has embarked on its first season transitioning to Division I status as one of two new members (along with Tarleton State) of the Western Athletic Conference.  
    During their 14-year Division II era, the Trailblazers played to a 266-122 (.685) overall record. Dixie State won seven conference regular season championships (6 PacWest, 1 RMAC) and two postseason conference tournament crowns (PacWest 2013/2018).
    In addition, DSU made nine NCAA D-II Basketball Tournament appearances in 11 seasons since 2010, including seven-straight appearances from 2010-16, and advanced all the way to the West Regional final (Sweet 16) in 2011. Dixie State earned its final NCAA Tournament berth last season, but that appearance was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

LAST TIME OUT: Dixie State opened the road portion of its 2020-21 season with a hard-fought 73-70 victory at Denver University last Saturday afternoon in the Mile High City.
    DSU trailed briefly just three times in the first half and never surrendered the lead in the second half despite two big Pioneer rallies. Junior guard Cameron Gooden led all scorers with a career-high 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting (5-of-9 3FG). DSU connected on 10 three pointers and forced 22 Denver turnovers, which resulted in 12 Blazer steals. 

CHECK ANOTHER ONE OFF THE LIST: Not only will Thursday's game at Southern Utah be the first-ever meeting between the two programs, it will mark the fifth different NCAA opponent the Trailblazers have faced from the State of Utah.
    SUU was slated to be the final Utah collegiate opponent left on Dixie State's list when the original 2020-21 schedule was release. However due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trailblazers lost their season opening home date vs. Weber State (11/28) and a road game at Utah State, which was scheduled for this past Tuesday night (12/15) in Logan.
    DSU has faced only one Division I in-state NCAA opponent in a regular season game, that was Utah in Salt Lake City during the 2007-08 season (Utah 83, DSU 64; 1/9/08). Dixie State also played three exhibition games at Utah Valley (2006/2017/2018), and another one at BYU (2011). The Trailblazers have also played D-II member Westminster College eight times (5-3 overall), including four times (3-1) as a member of the RMAC in 2018-20,

572 AND COUNTING: Head Coach Jon Judkins became the first men's coach in Utah collegiate basketball history to reach the 500-win plateau when Dixie State defeated Hawai'i Hilo (81-72) back on January 28, 2017.
    Coach Judkins (572 career wins; .686 W%) is currently second all-time in coaching victories in Utah college basketball history, trailing only legendary University of Utah head women's coach Elaine Elliott, who amassed 582 career wins (582-234) in her 27 seasons on the Utes' sideline.

TRAILBLAZERS PICKED SEVENTH/EIGHTH IN THE WAC: Dixie State was picked to finish seventh by the media and eighth by the coaches in its Western Athletic Conference debut season as the 2020-21 WAC men's basketball preseason polls were released on Oct. 27.
    Three-time defending WAC champion New Mexico State was tabbed as overwhelming favorite to win its fourth-straight conference crown. The Aggies claimed eight of nine first place votes to finish with 64 points in the coaches poll, and collected 10 more first place nods and 150 points in the media poll.
    In fact, the top five spots matched in both polls as Grand Canyon (1 FPV – 52 pts coaches/125 pts media) was voted second overall, followed by UT Rio Grande Valley (45 pts coaches/114 pts media) in third, California Baptist (43 pts coaches/2 FPV – 105 pts media) in fourth, and Seattle U (33 pts coaches/84 pts media) in fifth.
    WAC newcomer Tarleton State (31 pts) wound up sixth in the coaches poll, while Utah Valley (28 pts) was listed in seventh, DSU (20 pts) in eighth and Chicago State (8 pts) in ninth. Rounding out the media poll, UVU finished sixth (74 pts), followed by the Trailblazers (49 pts) in seventh, Tarleton State (46 pts) in eighth, and CSU (18 pts) in ninth.

HOME SWEET HOME: Since joining the NCAA ranks in 2006-07, Dixie State has played to a 137-29 (.825) overall record in the Burns Arena under Head Coach Jon Judkins, including a quick 2-0 start this year, and a 12-2 mark last season. In fact, DSU has recorded 13-straight home winning season records in 14 years of NCAA competition overall.
    DSU has posted eight 10-plus win seasons during its four-year era, highlighted by a perfect 12-0 record in 2009-10, and 11-1 records in consecutive seasons in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

HOME SWEET HOME, PART 2: Dixie State finished the 2019-20 season ranked second-nationally at the NCAA Division II level in home game attendance. This past season's accomplishment also marked the 11th-straight season overall that the Trailblazer program has closed a season ranked in the top-10 in the nation in home attendance.
    DSU posted the second-highest totals in both average attendance (2,432) and in total attendance (34,043) in 14 total home dates last season, which included a season-high 3,493 fans that saw the Trailblazers defeat Western Colorado back on Jan. 25, 2020.  
    Dixie State also finished sixth among Utah's eight NCAA member institutions in average attendance in 2019-20, behind BYU (189,392/12,626 per game – 15 games), Utah (147,852/10,561 – 14 games), Utah State (138,737/8,671 – 16 games), Weber State (61,610/4,401 – 14 games) and Utah Valley (31,889/2,453 – 13 games). However, DSU did finish well ahead of both Southern Utah (32,651/2,332 – 14 games) and Westminster College (3,389/226 – 15 games).
    Since the 2008-09 season, Dixie State was annually ranked in the top-15 in Division II in home attendance, including second-overall in 2012-13 and 2013-14, and third in the country in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2018-19 campaigns. DSU was also ranked fourth-overall in 2016-17, fifth in 2014-15, sixth in 2015-16, ninth in 2009-10 and 2017-18, and 14th in 2008-09.

HOW ABOUT WHEN THE BAGS ARE PACKED?: Dixie State is 132-93 (.586) in 225 games away from home in its NCAA era under Coach Judkins, including last Saturday's win at Denver, and a combined 11-5 record last season (7-5 road; 4-0 neutral). Overall, the Trailblazers have played to a 104-72 record (.591) in true road games, and a 28-21 mark (.571) in neutral site games during Judkins' tenure.
    DSU has won eight or more games away from home in 11 of its previous 14 NCAA campaigns overall, including a program best 15-5 record (10-2 in road contests) in 2010-11.

RELEASE...ROTATION...SPLASH: Dating back to late in the 2016-17 season, Dixie State has hit at least one 3-pointer in 92-straight games, which included 12 made treys (12-of-29) in the win vs. Saint Katherine (12/5), and 10 more trifectas (10-of-27) last Saturday at Denver.
    In fact, DSU posted back-to-back games with 10 or more 3FGM for just the second time in the program's NCAA era. Nearly two full seasons ago, DSU first accomplished that feat with a school record-tying 13 treys at Colorado Mesa (1/25/19), which was followed by 10 more 3-pointers the next night at Western Colorado (1/26/19).
    Meanwhile, DSU only reached double figures in 3FGM twice all of last season, highlighted by a season-high 12 3-pointers at Westminster, (2/28/20) and 11 trifectas in the come-from behind win at New Mexico Highlands (12/13/19).
    In all, Dixie State has hit at least one three pointer in 293 of its last 295 games overall, and in 388 of the program's 391 NCAA-era games since the beginning of the 2006-07 season.
    Dixie State has now reached double-figures in made 3-pointers 21 times in its four-year era overall, highlighted by a single-game 3FGM school record of 13 first set at Carroll College on Nov. 11, 2008.

FROM WAY DOWNTOWN...CLANG: While Dixie State was knocking down 12 3-pointers vs. Saint Katherine (12/5), the Trailblazer defense was making a little history on the defensive side of things.
    For the FIRST TIME in the program's NCAA era (390th game overall), DSU held a team without a 3-point make as the Firebirds misfired on all 18 of their shots from beyond the arc.
    Prior to the SKU win, the previous 3FGM opponent low was one, which was recorded in consecutive games all the way back in the 2012-13 season at Notre Dame de Namur (1-of-9; 2/16/13) and at home vs. BYU-Hawaii (1-of-10; 2/23/13).

AGAINST NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS: With its 3-0 start to the 2020-21 season, Dixie State has improved to 80-68 (.540) all-time against non-conference opponents in 14-plus seasons of four-year competition, which included a 6-2 mark last season, and an 11-14 record in the program's first year of NCAA play (2006-07). Additionally, DSU owns a combined 7-14 postseason record (4-4 PacWest, 1-2 RMAC, 2-8 NCAA).
    DSU has recorded seven winning seasons in non-conference games in its four-year era, including a program-best nine wins in 2010-11 (9-4), eight wins in 2008-09 (8-7), and seven victories in 2012-13 (7-4).

IT'S NOT HOW YOU START....: Dixie State collected its second-straight season opening victory when the Trailblazers knocked off North Dakota (12/2).
    DSU moved to 8-7 all-time in season-opening games during the program's NCAA era, and has won six of their last nine, and eight of its previous 13 openers overall.
    In addition, Dixie State is 11-4 all-time in 15 Burns Arena debuts as a four-year program and has now won eight of its last nine home openers.  
    Meanwhile, DSU improved to 8-7 all-time in road openers in its four-year era after the win at Denver last Saturday. The Blazers have won two-straight road openers overall, this after dropping three-straight prior to that (2016-18).

A DECADE OF DOMINANCE: Dixie State closed out the 2010-19 decade as one of the most dominant programs in the NCAA Division II ranks. DSU posted a 208-74 (.737) overall record and captured six Pacific West Conference championships (and two PacWest tournament crowns) over that 10-year span. In addition, the program earned eight NCAA Tournament bids, including seven-straight NCAA postseason appearances from 2010-16.
    Dixie State notched six 20-win seasons in the decade, including a NCAA-era record 23 victories in the 2017-18 season.
    DSU also began the decade with a seven-game winning streak and won 10 of its first 11 games overall to finish that year 15-3 (20-6 overall), while the Trailblazers closed the decade, coincidentally, by winning 10 of its final 11 games over the first two months of the 2019-20 season. 

STOP......THIEF: Dixie State picked off a season high 12 steals and forced an opponent season high 22 turnovers in the win at Denver last Saturday. DSU reached double figures in steals eight times last year, including a season best 12 steals against another "Mile High City" opponent in Regis (1/18/20).

BLAZING TRAILS:
* - Sophomore forward Frank Staine reached double figures for the second time in three games this season with his 10-point performance at Denver last Saturday ... Staine opened the year with a game-high 19 points in the home win vs. North Dakota (12/2).
* - Staine also dished out a game-high five assists at Denver, which matched the five dimes he delivered vs. UND ... the sophomore also picked off a career-high four steals against the Pioneers.
* - Junior forward Jacob Nicolds tied a career-high 17 points in his season debut vs. North Dakota (12/2) on his way to WAC Player of the Week honors (12/7) ... Nicolds also posted career highs in rebounds (8), FGM (5), FGA (8) and minutes played (30) vs. UND ... Nicolds first scored 17 points last season in a road win at Western Colorado (2/7/20) ... like Staine, Nicolds also set a new career high in steals with three in the win at Denver.   
* - Senior forward Hunter Schofield scored his 500th point in a Trailblazer uniform on an offensive put back with 1:17 left in the UND win (12/2) ... Schofield also reached double figures in points for the first time this year with a 14-point outing at Denver on 6-of-9 shooting.
* -  Schofield is currently ranked third in DSU's NCAA era in scoring average (15.8 ppg), sixth in career rebounding average (5.9 rpg) and seventh in career FG% (.534).
* - Senior guard Dason Youngblood did something during the North Dakota win (12/2) that he had not done in his previous 57 games in a Trailblazer uniform - he fouled out of a game ... Youngblood battled foul trouble all night, but he did wind up with eight points on 4-of-7 shooting and three rebounds before drawing his fifth foul in the second half.
* - Fast forward to the win vs. SKU (12/5), where Youngblood blocked a career-high three shots to go with seven points, four assists and two rebounds, all while NOT committing a personal foul.  
* - Senior forward Jarod Greene continued to display his hot shooting touch as he poured in 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting and pulled down a career-high nine rebounds vs. SKU (12/5) ... Greene (10-of-14, .714 FG% - #1 in the WAC) opened the season by hitting all four shots he took (3-3 FG/1-1 FT) for seven points to go with five boards in his start vs. UND (12/2), and went 1-for-3 for two points at Denver last Saturday.
* - Junior guard Cameron Gooden enjoyed a breakout game at Denver last Saturday, against which he poured in game and career-high 23 points in the win ... Gooden connected on 7-of-13 from the floor (5-of-9 3FG) to go with three assists and three steals.
* - With that effort, Gooden vaulted to the team lead in scoring (13.0 ppg) and he is second behind Staine in assists (12; 4.0 apg).
* - DSU's bench has outscored its opponent reserves by a 83-40 margin (27.6-13.3 ppg) through its first three games, including a 29-11 clip at Denver last Saturday, continuing a trend from last season when DSU reserves outscored its opponents' reserves in 22 of 30 games played (748-571/24.9 ppg-19.0 ppg).
* - The Trailblazer reserves accounted for seven of DSU's 12 3FGM in the SKU win (12/5), including two treys apiece for junior guard Brock Gilbert (2-for-2) and freshman guard Emad Elniel (2-of-3) ... freshman guard Andre Mulibea also knocked down his first collegiate 3-pointer, and senior guard Jamar Ergas nailed a 3-pointer for his first DSU field goal make.
* - Mulibea tallied a season-high eight points off the bench in the Denver win.
* - Dating back to the 2016-17 season, Dixie State has had 61 of its last 116 games decided by nine points or less, including both D-I wins this season.
* - DSU's 38-point margin of victory vs. Saint Katherine (12/5) was the fifth-largest in the program's NCAA era.
* - Since the 2016-17, Dixie State has shot 50 percent or better in 43 of its last 111 games overall.
* - DSU shot a season-high 47.8 percent vs. SKU (12/5) ... The Blazers also shot 45.8 percent vs. North Dakota (12/2), which included a 53.0 percent clip on its 2-point field goal attempts (26-of-49), which offset an uncharacteristic 1-of-10 (.100) effort from beyond the arc.
* - Dixie State dished out a season-high 22 assists on its 34 made field goals vs. SKU (12/5), including dimes on 10 of the Blazers' first 12 made shots.
* - Last season DSU recorded 20+ assists 11 times, highlighted by a season-high 27 helpers (#4 all-time in DSU's NCAA era) at Fort Lewis (1/31/20).
* - After getting outrebounded by a slim 38-37 margin by North Dakota (12/2), DSU outrebounded SKU by a 51-34 (+17) count vs. SKU (12/5) ... however that rebounding margin took a hit as DSU was out-boarded by Denver, 38-26.
* - Despite the result at Denver, the Blazers have outrebounded an opponent in 69 of its last 87 games dating back to the 2017-18 campaign.
* - DSU is 20-13 all-time in overtime games ... four of those 33 games have gone to double-overtime (2-2), the last was a 79-75 loss at Cal Poly Pomona (11/10/17) in the 2017-18 season opener.

ABOUT THE SOUTHERN UTAH "THUNDERBIRDS": Southern Utah enters Thursday night's game having won four-straight, including an 81-71 road triumph at Utah Valley in its last outing back on Dec. 9. SUU also posted consecutive one-point home wins to open Big Sky Conference play vs. Montana (12/3-5), and a 95-47 drubbing of Saint Katherine (11/28), all of which came after a heart-breaking 85-83 road loss in its season opener at Loyola Marymount (11/23).
    Todd Simon (Central Michigan, 2003) is in his fifth season as Thunderbird head coach and has compiled a 57-69 overall record.
     Junior guard Tevian Jones (6-7) leads four Thunderbirds averaging double figures at 18.8 ppg on 45.6 percent shooting (14-of-36 .389 3FG), highlighted by a career-high 33 points at UVU, which earned him Big Sky Player of the Week honors. Meanwhile junior forward Maizen Fausett (6-6) is SUU's leading rebounder (6.0 rpg) and second-leading scorer (14.6 ppg).
    As a team, Southern Utah averages 79.6 ppg on 46.9 percent shooting through five games while allowing 68.0 ppg. SUU also averages 9.2 3FGM and 36.0 rpg a contest.

UP NEXT: Dixie State closes out the 2020 portion of its home schedule with a match-up against Bethesda College on Saturday, Dec. 19. Tip-off inside the Burns Arena is slated for 7 p.m.