Game Notes: DIXIE STATE - PDF | GONZAGA
Live TV: ROOT Sports Northwest (DirecTV Channel 687; DISH Channel 426)
Live Video: WatchStadium.com
Live Audio: ESPN RADIO 97.7 FM
Live Stats: at GONZAGA
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OPENING TIP: Dixie State (4-1/0-0 WAC) closes out the 2020 calendar year with a trip to the "The Kennel" for a date at No. 1-ranked Gonzaga (7-0; pending the outcome of a home game Monday vs. Northern Arizona) on Tuesday, Dec. 29. Tip-off inside the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Wash., is slated for 6 p.m. (PT).

DIXIE STATE VS. GONZAGA: Tuesday night's game against the top-ranked Bulldogs will be the first-ever meeting between teams on the basketball court.
    The game will also be the first time in Dixie State's NCAA era that the program will have face a ranked Division I team, let alone the #1-ranked team in the country in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches' Polls.

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, with Devin Dixon calling the play-by-play action and former DSU assistant coach Mike Olson 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.
    Tuesday night's game at Gonzaga will be broadcast live on Root Sports Northwest, which can be found on DirecTV channel 687 and Dish Network channel 426.

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 bounced back from its first loss of the program's NCAA Division I era with a 90-69 home victory over Bethesda College back on Dec. 19.
    Four Trailblazers scored in double figures, while DSU shot a season-high 63.2 percent from the floor, which helped offset a paltry 46.4 percent (13-of-28) at foul line. Junior forward Jacob Nicolds posted his first collegiate double-double with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting to go with a career-high 12 rebounds. Meanwhile sophomores Frank Staine and Isaiah Pope also poured in 14 points apiece, coincidentally, on 6-of-8 shooting as well.

CHECK ANOTHER ONE OFF THE LIST: Dixie State's road game at Southern Utah (12/17) was not only the first-ever meeting between the two programs separated by 54 total miles, it also marked 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 (12/15).
    Prior to the SUU game, DSU had 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). In addition, the Trailblazers have played D-II member Westminster College eight times (5-3 overall), including four occasions (3-1) as a member of the RMAC in 2018-20,

573 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 (573 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 138-29 (.826) overall record in the Burns Arena under Head Coach Jon Judkins, including a quick 3-0 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 132-94 (.584) in 226 games away from home in its NCAA era under Coach Judkins, including a 1-1 start this year, and a combined 11-5 record last season (7-5 road; 4-0 neutral). Overall, the Trailblazers have played to a 104-73 record (.587) 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: Dixie State has hit at least one 3-pointer in 94-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) at Denver (12/12). DSU then went on to hit nine 3FGs in the loss at SUU (12/17).  
    In fact, when DSU posted back-to-back games with 10 or more 3FGM vs. SKU/at Denver, it marked just the second time in the program's NCAA era that the Blazers accomplished that feat.
    The first occurrence happened nearly two full seasons ago when DSU hit 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 295 of its last 297 games overall, and in 390 of the program's 393 NCAA-era games since the beginning of the 2006-07 season.
    In addition, Dixie State has 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 made 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 4-1 start to the 2020-21 season, Dixie State has improved to 81-69 (.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).

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 (12/12). 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 has scored in double figures in four of his first five starts this season, highlighted by a game-high 19 points in the season-opening home win vs. North Dakota (12/2).
* - Staine also dished out three or more assists in four starts, including a pair of five-assist outings vs. UND and at Denver (12/12) ... Staine posted his second career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and scored his 300th career point, at SUU (12/17).
* - 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 his first collegiate double-double with 14 points and a career-high 12 boards in the Bethesda win (12/19).  
* - 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), and grabbed his 200th career rebound in the Bethesda win (12/19) ... Schofield reached double figures in points for the first time this year with a 14-point day at Denver on 6-of-9 shooting.
* -  Schofield is currently ranked third in DSU's NCAA era in scoring average (15.7 ppg), t-sixth in career rebounding average (5.8 rpg) and seventh in career FG% (.526).
* - 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) three days later, during which Youngblood blocked a career-high three shots to go with seven points, four assists and two rebounds, all while NOT committing a personal foul ... Youngblood also tallied nine points and five dimes vs. Bethesda (12/19).   
* - Senior forward Jarod Greene continued to display his hot shooting touch as he poured in 10 points on 3-of-3 shooting and 4-of-4 at the line vs. Bethesda (12/19) ... Greene (14-of-19, .737 FG% - #2 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 6-of-8 for 12 points and pulled down a career-high nine caroms vs. Saint Katherine (12/5).
* - Junior guard Cameron Gooden enjoyed a breakout game at Denver (12/12), against which he poured in game and career-high 23 points on 7-of-13 from the floor (5-of-9 3FG) to go with three assists and three steals ... Gooden followed that up with a team-high 16 points with three more 3FGM at SUU (12/17).
* - DSU's bench has outscored its opponent reserves by a 141-78 margin (28.2-15.6 ppg) through its first five games (4-of-5 games overall), including a 39-14 clip vs. Bethesda (12/19), 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.
* - Sophomore guard Isaiah Pope has made an immediate impact since becoming eligible prior to the SUU game (12/17) ... Pope has averaged 11.5 points on 69.2 percent shooting in two games, highlighted by a 14-point night on 6-of-8 shooting vs. Bethesda (12/19).
* - Ergas also enjoyed a breakout night vs. Bethesda as he nailed back-to-back first half 3FGs and threw down a highlight reel alley-oop jam on his way to a career-high eight points.
* - Gilbert has maintained his perfect shooting stroke, having hit all three of 3FG attempts and two FT attempts through four games.
* - Dating back to the 2016-17 season, Dixie State has had 62 of its last 118 games decided by nine points or less, including all three games against D-I opponents.
* - 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 44 of its last 113 games overall.
* - DSU shot a season-high 63.2 percent vs. Bethesda (12/19) ... that performance broke a string of 66 games from the last time the Trailblazers shot at least 60 percent from the floor (60.0% vs. Holy Names - 2/19/18).
* - Dixie State dished out a season-high 25 assists on its 36 made field goals vs. Bethesda (12/19), including five dimes apiece for Youngblood and Staine.
* - Dixie State also recorded 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 ... however that rebounding margin took a hit as DSU was out-boarded by Denver, 38-26, and a 46-32 clip (18-5 on offensive glass) at SUU (12/17).
* - Despite those results, the Blazers have outrebounded an opponent in 70 of its last 89 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 GONZAGA "BULLDOGS": Gonzaga, which will host Northern Arizona on Monday night prior to Tuesday's game vs. Dixie State, enters the final week of the 2020 calendar year with a perfect 7-0 mark, highlighted by four victories over AP Top-20 programs, including a 98-75 triumph over #16/15 Virginia last Saturday afternoon in Fort Worth, Texas.
    That victory made a little history for the Zags as they became the first NCAA program to ever beat four top-20 ranked teams through the first seven games of a season in NCAA history.
    Mark Few (Oregon, 1987) is in his 22nd season as head coach at Gonzaga, where he is currently the winningest active coach by percentage (.830) in the NCAA ranks with a 606-124 overall record.  
     Preseason AP All-America candidate Corey Kispert (Sr., F; 6-7) leads three Bulldogs in double figures at 22.4 ppg on a team-best 63.6 percent shooting. Kispert tied a GU program record with nine 3FGM (9-of-13) as part of a 32-point effort (11-of-15 FG) vs. Virginia last Saturday.
    Fellow frontcourt mate Drew Timme (So., F, 6-10), who poured in a career-high 29 points in the Virginia win, follows at 21.6 ppg and is Gonzaga's leading rebounder at 7.6 rpg, while freshman guard Jalen Suggs (6-4) leads the team in assists (5.8 apg) and is third in scoring at 15.1 ppg.
    As a team, Gonzaga is ranked second nationally in scoring (95.1 ppg) and third in the nation in FG% (.557) through seven games while allowing 76.7 ppg. The Zags also average 7.3 3FGM and 39.4 rpg a contest.

UP NEXT: Dixie State will ring in the 2021 New Year at home against SAGU-American Indian College on Saturday, Jan. 2. Tip-off inside the Burns Arena is slated for 7 p.m.