Game Notes: DIXIE STATE - PDF | WEBER STATE - PDF
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OPENING TIP: Dixie State (1-4/0-0 WAC) returns home for six-straight games inside the Burns Arena, starting with a post-Thanksgiving showdown against in-state foe Weber State this Saturday night. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.

DIXIE STATE AGAINST WEBER STATE: Saturday's game vs. Weber State will be the first-ever meeting between the Trailblazers and Wildcats as NCAA opponents on the basketball court. Dixie State and Weber State had met previously when both institutions were junior colleges before WSU became as four-year school in 1962.
    The two sides were supposed to meet nearly one year ago to the day (11/28/20), but that game was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols inside the WSU program.
        
DIXIE STATE ON THE AIR: All Dixie State Division I home and select road 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. A live stream of the radio broadcast will be available at sportsradio977.com.
    Along with the radio coverage, all Dixie State home games and Western Athletic Conference games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
     In August, the WAC announced a new multi-year, multi-platform media rights agreement with the "The Worldwide Leader" that will see over 500 annual events on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.

LAST TIME OUT: Dixie State closed out its three-game southern California road swing on the wrong end of a 98-71 decision at No. 24 USC this past Monday night inside the Galen Center.
    DSU had no early answer for the Trojans, who bolted out of the gates hitting on five of their first six shots with three 3-pointers to race out to a quick 13-2 lead.
    The Blazers trailed by as many as 20 points later in the period, but DSU hung tough, eventually cutting the deficit to nine at 53-44 with 17:50 to play in the second half.
    However the ranked Trojans went on a sustained 28-9 run over the next 10 minutes, including a 17-2 spurt to push their lead to nearly 30 points and cruised on from there to notch the home win.

TRAILBLAZERS PICKED 12TH IN THE WAC: Dixie State was voted to finish 12th by both the coaches and the media as the Western Athletic Conference announced its 2021-22 conference men's basketball preseason polls on Oct. 19.
    New Mexico State was overwhelming pick to reclaim its crown in 2021-22 as the Aggies received eight first place votes and 138 points in the coaches' poll, and was favorite among the media pollsters as well.
    Defending WAC champion Grand Canyon collected three first place votes and 131 points to finish second in the coaches' rankings, while the Lopes were voted third in the media poll. Meanwhile, conference newcomer Stephen F. Austin garnered one first place nod and 106 points to finish third in the coaches' poll and second in the media poll.
    The rest of the coaches poll listed Utah Valley (103 pts) in fourth, WAC newcomer (and 2020-21 Southland champion) Abilene Christian (1 FPV; 92 pts) in fifth, Seattle U (90 pts) in sixth, WAC newcomer Sam Houston (86 pts) in seventh, California Baptist (84 pts) in eighth, Tarleton State (48) and UTRGV (48 pts) in t-ninth, conference newcomer Lamar (41 pts) in 11th, DSU (35 pts) in 12th, and Chicago State (12 pts) in 13th.
    Rounding out the media poll was ACU in fourth, followed by UVU, CBU, SHSU, Seattle U, Tarleton, Lamar, UTRGV, DSU and CSU.  

578 AND COUNTING: Head Coach Jon Judkins enters the 2021-22 season on the cusp of becoming the all-time leader in coaching victories in Utah college basketball history. Over his first 27 years as a head coach, Judkins currently owns a 578-278 (.675) overall record, including a 294-150 (.662) mark in 17-plus years at Dixie State (274-138 - NCAA era).
    Judkins now stands five wins shy of passing 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.
    Coach 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. Prior to his arrival at DSU, Judkins spent 12 full seasons at Snow (UT) College, where he went 284-128 on the Badger sideline.
 
HOME SWEET HOME: Since joining the NCAA ranks in 2006-07, Dixie State has played to a 141-36 (.796) overall record in the Burns Arena under Head Coach Jon Judkins, which includes the SUU win last Friday, along with a 5-7 record last season, and a 12-2 mark in DSU's final D-II year in 2019-20.
    In fact, DSU has recorded 13 home winning season records in 15 years of NCAA competition overall, though last season's 5-7 result was the first time in that 13-year winning stretch that the Blazers did not finish above .500 at home.
    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.
    
HOW ABOUT WHEN THE BAGS ARE PACKED?: Dixie State finished the 2020-21 campaign with a 3-6 overall road mark, which snapped an 11-year run that saw DSU post a winning road record.
    The last time Dixie State did not come away with a winning road record was all the way back in the 2007-08 season, when it went 4-11 away from home in the program's second year of Division-II competition.
    Dixie State is now 134-103 (.565) in 237 games away from home in its NCAA era under Coach Judkins, which includes an 0-4 start this season.
    DSU owns a 106-81 record (.567) in true road games, and a 28-22 mark (.560) in neutral site games during Judkins' tenure, with last Friday's Texas State game serving as the Blazers' first neutral court game in the program's new D-I era.
    DSU has won eight or more games away from home in 11 of its 15 NCAA campaigns overall, including a program best 15-5 record (10-2 in road contests) in 2010-11.

AGAINST NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS: Following the loss at USC last Monday, Dixie State is now 82-75 (.522) all-time against non-conference opponents in 15-plus seasons of NCAA competition. That record includes a 4-3 record in the Blazers' NCAA D-I debut last season, a 6-2 mark in the program's last D-II season in 2019-20, 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 eight winning seasons in non-conference games in its four-year era, highlighted by 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's loss at No. 1 Gonzaga (11/9) snapped Dixie State's modest two-game season opening win streak. DSU is now an even 8-8 all-time in season-opening games during the program's NCAA era.
    On the flip side, the Blazers moved to 12-4 in 16 their Burns Arena debuts as a four-year program after the SUU back on Nov. 12, and DSU has won nine of its last 10 home openers overall.  

RELEASE...ROTATION...SPLASH: Dixie State has hit at least one 3-pointer in 115-straight games, including eight made treys at Gonzaga (11/9), and six more against both Southern Utah (11/13) and at USC last Monday.
    Dixie State reached double figures in made 3-pointers three times last season, all of which resulted in Trailblazer wins, which included 12 made treys (12-of-29) in a home win vs. Saint Katherine (12/5).
    That effort was one off the school record of 13 first set at Carroll College on Nov. 11, 2008, while the Blazers have reached double-figures in made 3-pointers 21 times in its four-year era overall.
    In all, Dixie State has hit at least one three pointer in 316 of its last 318 games overall, and in 411 of the program's 414 NCAA-era games since the beginning of the 2006-07 season.
    
FROM WAY DOWNTOWN...CLANG: While Dixie State knocked 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).

DUNK YOU VERY MUCH: For just the seventh time in the program's NCAA era, and for the first time in the last 56 games overall, Dixie State opened its scoring with a dunk when senior Hunter Schofield threw down a two-hand jam to get the Blazers on the board at USC last Monday.
    Schofield cleared the rebound to Cameron Gooden, who gave the streaking forward the ball back in transition at the top of the perimeter. Schofield then took one bounce and flew to the rack for the fast break finish.
    Schofield became just the sixth different Trailblazer in 414 NCAA era games to dunk home DSU's first points, and he is the first to do it in the program's D-I transition.
    The last Blazer player to open DSU's scoring with a dunk was former DSU All-American Trevor Hill, who hammered down the game's first points in Dixie State's NCAA D-II Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional first round game vs. Azusa Pacific (3/9/18).

"SCORE"FIELD GETTING IT DONE IN-STATE: Schofield continued his dominant play against in-state opponents with a season-high 29 points in DSU's 83-76 win over Southern Utah back on Nov. 12.
    The senior knocked down 12 of his 19 shot attempts, including 8-of-12 shooting in the first half, and just missed his chance to tie or set a new career high in points after he fouled out with 1:12 to play.
    In six career games vs. in-state foes, Schofield is averaging an even 20.0 points on nearly 57 percent shooting, highlighted by a career-high 31 points (11-of-16 FG) in a road win at Utah Valley last February (2/13/21). In addition, Schofield has scored double figures in five of those six in-state games overall with three 25-plus point outings.
    Schofield kept that vibe going in Northridge as he averaged 15.0 points on 52.4 percent shooting, including 16 points in the opening game vs Texas State (11/19). He followed that up with 14 points at CSUN (11/20), and he poured in 10 points with a season-high eight rebounds at USC last Monday.
    Schofield's current run has vaulted him into 10th place on DSU's career scoring list (833 points), and he is ranked third all-time in career scoring average (14.8 ppg).

GOODEN-PLENTY: Gooden averaged 18.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in DSU's three-game SoCal trip last weekend.
    The 5-11 guard earned All-Tournament Team honors at the CSUN Good Sam Empire Classic, which was highlighted by a season-high 20 points and a career-best eight rebounds at CSUN (11/13). The junior also recorded his first blocked shot as a Trailblazer against the Matadors.
    Gooden also averaged 3.3 assists in the three games, including four dimes to go with a team-high 18 points vs. Texas State (11/19), and he led DSU with 17 points and four assists at USC last Monday.
    Gooden picked up right where he left off from last season as went for a team-high 15 points in 31 minutes at No. 1 Gonzaga (11/9). Gooden hit on 6-of-12 shots to go with a team-high five assists and three rebounds.
    The junior then followed that up with 10 points and a career-high nine assists in the win over Southern Utah (11/12). His nine dimes bested his previous career high of six set at California Baptist (1/30/21) last season.
    Gooden has scored in double figures in all five games this season, and in 18 of 26 games as a Trailblazer, and has led or co-led the team in scoring 13 times overall.

BLAZING TRAILS:
* - Sophomore forward Frank Staine matched Gooden with a season-high 17 points at USC last Monday ... the Inglewood native also  knocked down three 3-pointers with one rebound and a steal in 24 minute in his return to his hometown area ... the sophomore's three treys also moved him into a tie for 10th-place on DSU's career 3FGM list (72).  
* - Staine notched his first double-digit point game of the year with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting vs. SUU (11/12) ... Staine, who scored in double figures in 10 of 20 games last year with a pair of 19-point nights, has scored 10 or more points in 25 of his 55 career games as a Trailblazer.  
* - Junior guard Brock Gilbert made his fourth career start in the Southern Utah win (11/12) and responded with a season-high eight assists to go with two points, one rebound and steal ... In fact, Gilbert and Gooden combined for 17 assists to just three turnovers against the Thunderbirds.
* - Gilbert also started at CSUN (11/20) and poured in a career-high 10 points with a game-high seven assists ... Gilbert hit on 3-of-6 from the floor with a 3-pointer and picked off two steals in a career-high 33 minutes played.
* - Junior forward Dancell Leter made the most of his Trailblazer debut, pouring in 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting with a pair of 3-pointers at No. 1 Gonzaga (11/9) ... Leter, who got the start, also collected four boards, one steal and one block in 23 minutes.
* - Sophomore guard Isaiah Pope just missed reaching double figures at No. 1 Gonzaga (11/9) as he finished with eight points on a pair of 3-pointers and two free throws in 14 reserve minutes.
* - Junior forward Jacob Nicolds provided a spark off the bench for DSU in the CSUN loss (11/20) with a season-high 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting ... Nicolds also went 4-of-5 at the line and collected three boards and an assist in nearly 28 reserve minutes.
* - Freshman forward Trevon Allfrey capped Dixie State's big 15-2 first half run vs. SUU (11/12) with a conventional 3-point play as part of a 10-point, three-rebound night ... the freshman hit three of his four shot attempts and blocked a shot in just over nine reserve minutes.  
* - Dixie State wrapped up its first year of D-I play with an 8-13 overall record, which included a 4-10 mark in WAC play ... the Trailblazers posted six wins against Division I opponents in its debut season at the D-I level.
* - DSU was the only program in the WAC that did not have to go through an extended COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, and was the only team in the conference to play their full slate of league games (not including the Chicago State season shutdown).
* - Schofield was named to the 2020-21 CoSIDA Division I Men's Basketball CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team ... Schofield (3.95 GPA) is the third Trailblazer player in the program's NCAA era to earn Second Team Academic All-America honors, joining former Blazers Josh Fuller (2016-17) and Brandon Simister (2017-18) on the prestigious list.
* - DSU's bench outscored Southern Utah's reserves by a season best 37-20 count in the big in-state win (11/12) ... DSU also outscored Texas State's bench (21-16), though the Blazer reserves are trailing by a 141-116 count through the first five games overall.
* - Last season DSU outscored its opponent reserves by a 466-406 margin (22.2-19.3 ppg) in 21 games (11-of-21 games overall) ... in 2019-20, DSU reserves outscored its opponents' reserves in 22 of 30 games played (748-571/24.9 ppg-19.0 ppg).
* - Since the 2016-17, Dixie State has shot 50 percent or better in just 46 of its last 136 games overall, though the Blazers managed to shoot 51.7 percent (31-of-60) in the SUU win (11/12), including a 57.6 clip in the first half.
*- DSU only shot better than 50 percent twice last season, the first being a season-high 63.2 percent vs. Bethesda (12/19) ... that performance broke a string of 66 games between the last time the Trailblazers shot at least 60 percent from the floor (60.0% vs. Holy Names - 2/19/18).
* - DSU also shot a WAC (and D-I opponent) season high 51.7 percent (30-of-58) in the win at Utah Valley (2/13).
* - Also dating back to the 2016-17 season, Dixie State has had 70 of its last 139 games decided by nine points or less, including 11 of 25 games in D-I contents to this point of the program's transition.
* - Uncharacteristically, Dixie State lost the "Battle of the Boards" in 12 of 21 games last season, and has been outrebounded in all four games this season ... overall, the Blazers have outrebounded an opponent in 75 of its last 112 games going 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 WEBER STATE "WILDCATS": Weber State comes to St. George on Saturday night as one of the nation's 42 remaining undefeated D-I programs at 5-0 on the young season. The Wildcats are off to their best start since the 1985-86 season, a start that was bolstered by winning the Jersey Mike's Classic, where WSU posted victories over UMass (88-73), Ball State (85-74) and Green Bay (68-58) last weekend in St. Petersburg, Fla.
    Freshman forward Dillon Jones (6-6; 13.8 ppg/11.0 rpg) was named Tourney MVP and Big Sky Player of the Week after he averaged a double-double (15.7 ppg/10.3 rpg) in the three wins. Jones is one of four Wildcat starters averaging double figures, with senior guard Koby McEwen leading the way at 18.4 ppg.   
    Randy Rahe (300-179; .626 at WSU) is in his 16th season as the Wildcats' head coach. In fact, Rahe, who won his 300th game at Weber State last Saturday vs. Green Bay, is the second-longest tenured head coach currently in the Utah college men's basketball ranks, second only to the "Dean of Utah Coaches" - DSU Head Coach Jon Judkins (17th season).  

UP NEXT: Dixie State continues its homestand with a rare two-game, non-conference series vs. Bethesda University next Tuesday (Nov. 30) and Wednesday (Dec. 1). Tip-off inside the Burns Arena each night is slated for 7 p.m.