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OPENING TIP: Dixie State (6-5/0-0 WAC) puts its five-game win streak on the line this Saturday as the Trailblazers head to the "Peace Garden State" for a road date at North Dakota (4-8).
    Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. (CT), inside the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (3,140) in Grand Forks. 

DIXIE STATE/NORTH DAKOTA SERIES: Saturday's game vs. North Dakota will be the second meeting between the Trailblazers and Fighting Hawks on the basketball court.
    Last season the Blazers began their  NCAA D-I transition with a narrow 74-73 D-I debut victory over UND inside the Burns Arena (12/2/20).

BLAZERS AGAINST THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA: Saturday's game at North Dakota will be Dixie State's first-ever trip to the "Peace Garden State," and will be just the fourth game against a team from North Dakota overall.
    Including last year's home win over the Fighting Hawks, DSU is 3-0 all-time vs. teams from North Dakota. Two of those wins were posted in the program's NCAA Division II era, the last coming early in the 2017-18 season when the Blazers knocked off Dickinson State (83-73; 11/25/17) in a neutral site game played in Salt Lake City.
    Dixie State also notched a 79-60 home win over Minot State over 10 years ago during the 2011-12 campaign (11/12/11).
        
DIXIE STATE ON THE AIR: All Dixie State home and select road games this season, not including Saturday's game at UND, 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 a 5-1 homestand with a 114-49 rout of SAGU American Indian College this past Wednesday night inside the Burns Arena.
    Four nights after knocking down a school record 16 3-pointers in the win over Denver last Saturday, the Trailblazers  shattered that mark with 21 more 3-pointers against the Warriors. DSU hit a record 10 first half treys, with six of those trifectas coming in a decisive 32-6 run that turned a slim 10-9 lead into a commanding 42-15 advantage with 5:14 play in the first half.
    DSU followed that up with a second-half record 11 more 3-pointers in the second stanza as the Blazers outscored SAGU-AIC by a 67-26 count to coast to their fifth-straight win.

JUDKINS NOW NO. 1 IN UTAH: Head Coach Jon Judkins became the all-time winningest head coach in Utah collegiate basketball history with career victory No. 583 in Wednesday's rout of SAGU-AIC.
    Judkins moved past legendary Utah head women's basketball coach Elaine Elliott (582-324) atop the state's all-time coaching victories list (men's and women's), a list that also includes a pair of former Dixie State coaches in Dave Rose (1990-97 before moving on to BYU) and Stan Watts (1941-45 before moving on to Utah), along with such names at Stew Morrill (Utah State) and Rick Majerus (Utah).
    Including last Wednesday's win vs. SAGU-AIC, Judkins now owns a 583-279 (.676) overall record during his time at both Dixie State and Snow College (1992-2005).
    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. Also of note, his older brother Jeff Judkins, who is currently the head women's coach at BYU, is sixth on the state's all-time collegiate wins list (438-201).

MILESTONE #2 ALSO ON THE HORIZON: Coach Judkins has closed in on another coaching milestone as he enters Saturday's game at North Dakota needing one more win to reach the 300-plateau on the Dixie State sideline.
    Coach Judkins is 299-151 (.664) in 16-plus years at Dixie State, including a 279-139 (.667) mark in the program's NCAA era.

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.  

HOME SWEET HOME: Since joining the NCAA ranks in 2006-07, Dixie State has played to a 144-37 (.795) overall record inside the Burns Arena under Head Coach Jon Judkins. Bolstered by a 5-1 homestand, the Blazers are now 6-1 at home this season, this after going 5-7 in their D-I debut season last year, 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-plus 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 month's Texas State (11/19) 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 SAGU-AIC win on Wednesday night, Dixie State moved to 87-76 (.533) 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).

FROM WAY DOWNTOWN....BANG: Dixie State has hit 10 or more 3-pointers in three-straight games, this after only doing it just 21 times the previous 417 NCAA era games prior to the current run.
    DSU knocked down 11 treys in the Saint Katherine win, then followed that up with a school-record 16 3FGM in last Saturday's victory over Denver.  
    The Blazers then went off against SAGU-AIC in Wednesday, hitting a school record 21 3-pointers, which was one of five 3FG school records to fall that night. DSU also broke records for first half 3FGM (10), second half 3FGM (11), and for 3FG attempted (37). In addition, 11 different Trailblazers hit at least one 3-pointer, which was another school record.
    Dixie State has now hit at least one 3-pointer in 121-straight games with 24 games of at least 10 3FGM.
     In addition, Dixie State has hit at least one three pointer in 322 of its last 324 games overall, and in 417 of the program's 420 NCAA-era games since the beginning of the 2006-07 season.

IT'S DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN: Dixie State started its five-game win streak in a big way with a pair of carbon-copy blowout victories over Bethesda University.
    In game one's 99-61 win (11/30), DSU went 36-of-71 from the floor (.507), including a 6-of-24 clip (.250) from the perimeter, and was 21-of-26 (.808) from the foul line. The Blazers also pulled down a season-high 59 rebounds and outrebounded the Flames by a 59-31 count.
    Dixie State followed that up with a 99-67 win in the game two (12/1), during which the Blazers hit on 36-of-77 (.468) of their shot attempts, 7-of-21 (.333) from 3-point country. DSU also went 20-of-26 (.769) at the line and won the battle of the boards by a 56-40 margin.

STOP....THIEF: While the Blazer offense hitting on all cylinders in the sweep of Bethesda, the Dixie State defense came up just as clutch as the Trailblazers broke the program's NCAA era single-game steals record with 18 in game two win (12/1).
    Three Trailblazers combined for nine of the team's 18 total steals on the night, with Dancell Leter, Cameron Gooden and Isaiah Pope each collecting three steals.
    In all, DSU forced 23 Flames' miscues on the night, which led to 28 Blazer points. The 18 steals eclipsed the previous record of 17 set twice, most recently at home vs. Dominican more than 10 years ago (2/10/11). DSU also had 17 steals at Adams State (11/18/06) in the program's third-ever NCAA game.

NINETY AND NINE: For the first time in the program's NCAA era, Dixie State scored 97 or more points in three-straight games when the Blazers lit the scoreboard last week for 99 points twice against Bethesda, and 97 vs. USK (12/4).
    Then after a "pedestrian" 82-point night in the Denver win (12/11), DSU erupted for a season-high 114 points in the SAGU-AIC win, which is the second-most in the program's NCAA era. In all, DSU averaged 93.5 points over its just concluded six-game homestand.
    Dixie State is 56-6 all-time when scoring at least 90 points, including a 43-5 mark in games of 90-99 points, and a 13-1 record when the Blazers eclipse the century mark.

GOODEN-PLENTY: Gooden was named TicketSmarter/WAC Men's Basketball Player of the Week this past Monday for his effort in the Trailblazers' 82-62 home victory over Denver last Saturday night.  
    Gooden led all scorers with 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including a 3-of-5 effort from the perimeter. Gooden scored 14 of his 22 points in the first half, including eight DSU's first 20 points (with two 3FGM) as DSU bolted out to commanding a 20-2 lead.
    Gooden also dished out six assists with no turnovers and had two rebounds in just over 34 minutes played. Gooden's 22-point night was one off of his career high of 23 he set nearly one year ago to the day in DSU's road win at Denver (73-70; 12/12/21), against which, coincidentally, he also scored 14 first half points.

MORE OF A GOOD(EN) THING: Gooden has scored in double figures in nine of his 11 starts this season, this included averaging 14.3 points and nearly four assists during DSU's just completed homestand.
    After he saw his modest seven-game (dating back to last season) streak of scoring 10 or more points halted by consecutive eight-point nights vs. Weber State (11/27) and Bethesda (11/30), the junior guard bounced back with a team-high 18 points and three assists in G2 vs. Bethesda (12/1). He then followed that up with 14 points vs. USK (12/4), then followed his Denver night with a team-high 16 points against
SAGU-AIC last Wednesday.
    Gooden earned All-Tournament Team honors at the CSUN Good Sam Empire Classic, which was highlighted by 20 points and a career-best eight rebounds at CSUN (11/13). Gooden also led DSU in scoring against both Texas State (18 pts; 11/19) and at then-No. 24 USC (17 pts; 11/22).
    Gooden picked up right where he left off from last season as went for a team-high 15 points in 31 minutes at then-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 went for 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 23 of 32 games as a Trailblazer, and has led or co-led the team in scoring 16 times overall.

"SCORE"FIELD GETTING IT DONE: After being held to five points in the opener at Gonzaga (11/9), senior forward Hunter Schofield has been on tear, scoring in double figures in nine of his next 10 starts (15.2 ppg), highlighted by a season-high 29 points in the Southern Utah win (11/12).
    The senior forward entered some rarefied air in game one vs. Bethesda (11/30) as he went a perfect 9-for-9 from the floor for a game-high 18 points. Schofield joined former Trailblazers Mark Ogden Jr. (9-of-9 vs. Holy Names; 12/20/14) and Steven Larson (11-of-11 at Montana State-Billings; 11/16/12) as the only other players in DSU's NCAA era to post a perfect shooting night with at least nine made field goals.
    Schofield continued his dominant play the next night with his first (and sixth career) double-double of the year with 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting and 10 rebounds.
    Schofield's recent tear has also vaulted him up the career charts as he is currently third in career scoring average (14.7 ppg), fifth in FGM (358), sixth in rebounding average (5.9 rpg), t-seventh in FG% (.522), and eighth in scoring (916 pts) and rebounds (365).

BLAZING TRAILS:
* - Sophomore forward Frank Staine matched Gooden with a season-high 17 points at USC (11/22) ... the Inglewood native also  knocked down three 3-pointers to go with one rebound and a steal in 24 minutes in his return to his hometown area.
* - Staine has scored in double figures in five-straight starts and in six of his last seven outings overall, including 15 points on 5-of-5 from 3-point country vs. SAGU-AIC last Wednesday.
* - In fact, Staine became the first player in Dixie State's NCAA era to hit his first five 3-point attempts.
* - Staine also became eligible to be ranked on DSU's career 3FG percentage list after the USK win (12/4), and thanks to his hot shooting vs. SAGU-AIC he vaulted to sixth place (.402) overall on that list ... Staine's 86 3FGM in 61 career games are also good for eighth on DSU's career list.
* - Speaking of perfection, freshman guard Hunter Bohls would be hard-pressed to top what he did in his two minutes vs. SAGU-AIC ... Bohls hoisted up his first three collegiate shots - all from beyond the arc, and knocked them all down for nine points.
* - Schofield was not the only Blazer to not only double up, but have a perfect night, vs. Bethesda (11/30) as freshman forward Trevon Allfrey recorded his first collegiate double-double with 15 points and a career-high 10 rebounds in the game one win ... Allfrey, who also blocked three total shots over the two games, went 5-for-5 from both the field and the charity stripe in 18 reserve minutes.
* - Meanwhile, junior guard Brock Gilbert flirted with a double-double in his own right in game two vs. Bethesda (12/1) ... the 5-10 guard dished out six assists and pulled down a career-best eight rebounds to go with two points and two steals in 23 minutes of action ... Gilbert also tied a season-high with eight assists vs. USK (8 vs. SUU - 11/12).  
* - Junior forward Dancell Leter reached double figures for the third time during the homestand (and fourth time this season) with 12 points in the Denver win (12/11) ... Leter hit 6-of-6 at the line and 3-of-5 from the floor to go with six rebounds.
* - Freshman guard Andre Mulibea continued his solid play off the bench as he was one of five Blazers to score in double figures with 11 points vs. USK (12/4) ... in fact, all 11 of Mulibea's points, including three 3-pointers, came over the last 2:47 of the first half as he accounted for all but two of DSU's final 13 points of the frame.
* - Mulibea also knocked down what turned out to be both initial record-breaking 3-pointers last week, including the 14th trey vs. Denver (12/11), and the 17th trifecta vs. SAGU-AIC last Wednesday.
* - After throwing down just three total dunks in 21 games last season, the Trailblazers already have seven dunks through the first 11 games this year - all of which have come over the last seven games, including three last Saturday vs. USK (12/4).
* - Sophomore reserve guard Jamaal Barnes has accounted for two of those dunks, one in both wins vs. Bethesda  ... Barnes has averaged 7.0 points during DSU's five-game win streak, highlighted by a season high 11 points vs. SAGU-AIC.
* - DSU's bench combined to outscore the SAGU-AIC reserves by a whopping 64-18 margin ... the 64 bench points eclipsed the previous season-high of 57 set in game one vs. Bethesda (11/30), against which the Blazer reserves combined to outscore their Flame counterparts by a 101-55 clip in the two wins.
* - Through 11 games, DSU's bench has outscored its opponent reserves by a 367-278 margin (33.3 ppg-25.2 ppg), and in eight of 11 games overall this season.
* - Last season DSU outscored its opponent reserves by a 466-406 margin (22.2-19.3 ppg) in 21 games (11-of-21 games) ... 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 49 of its last 142 games overall, though the Blazers have shot better than 50 percent four times through 11 games this season.
* - DSU shot a season-high 57.6 percent (34-of-59) vs. USK (12/4), and 51.9 percent vs. SAGU-AIC last Wednesday.
*- DSU only shot better than 50 percent twice last season, the first being a season-high 63.2 percent vs. Bethesda (12/19/20) ... 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).
* - Also dating back to the 2016-17 season, Dixie State has had 70 of its last 145 games decided by nine points or less, including 11 of 32 games in D-I contests to this point of the program's transition.
* - Dixie State crashed the boards in its sweep of Bethesda as the Blazers owned a plus-44 rebound margin in the two wins ... in fact DSU's 59 rebounds in game one (11/30) are the third-most in a single game in the program's NCAA era, while the 56 caroms in game two (12/1) are tied for seventh-most overall.
* - In addition, the two-game stretch also marked the first time in the program's four-year era that Dixie State posted consecutive 50-plus rebound games.
* - DSU also matched its season high with 59 rebounds in the SAGU-AIC win (59-33 rebound margin) ... freshman Trey Edmonds clear a game and career-high eight of those missed shots to go with a career-best eight points off the bench.  
* - Uncharacteristically, Dixie State lost the "Battle of the Boards" in 12 of 21 games last season, and has been outrebounded in five of nine games this season ... overall, the Blazers have outrebounded an opponent in 81 of its last 118 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.

UP NEXT: Dixie State will put a bow on the non-conference portion of its 2021-22 schedule this Wednesday night when the Trailblazers make the short trip up the I-15 to Cedar City to face in-state rival, and future WAC opponent, Southern Utah. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.