2021-22 Dixie State Trailblazers Men's Basketball (4-5/0-0 WAC)
Game No. 10
vs. Denver (3-8)
Saturday, December 11 / 7 p.m.
Burns Arena (4,779); St. George
 

Game Notes: DIXIE STATE - PDF | DENVER - PDF
Live TV: ESPN+
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Audio: ESPN RADIO 97.7 FM
Live Stats: vs. DENVER
Twitter: @DixieAthletics | @DIXIESTATEBBALL | #DixieBlazers | #WeAreONE | #WACmbb | #WAChoops

OPENING TIP: Dixie State (4-5/0-0 WAC) returns to action this Saturday night as the Trailblazers welcome in the Denver Pioneers (3-8) to the Burns Arena. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. 

DIXIE STATE AGAINST DU: Saturday's game vs. Denver will be the second meeting between the Trailblazers and Pioneers on the basketball court.
    Last season in Denver, Cameron Gooden poured in a career-high 23 points to lead Dixie State to its first-ever NCAA D-I road victory in a hard-fought 73-70 triumph (12/12/20), which capped the Blazers' 3-0 start to the 2020-21 campaign.

DIXIE STATE ON THE AIR: All Dixie State 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 pushed its win streak to three-straight with a lopsided 97-65 home win over Saint Katherine last Saturday night in the Burns Arena.
    The Blazers used a pair of extended first-half scoring runs, aided by eight 3-pointers, en route to a season-high 55 points and a commanding 55-31 halftime cushion. DSU's lead remained north of its 24-point halftime bulge the entire second half as the Trailblazers rolled to their fourth home win of the young season.

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.  

ON THE CUSP OF HISTORY: Head Coach Jon Judkins enters the final two games of the Blazers' long homestand two wins away from becoming the all-time leader in coaching victories in Utah state college basketball history. 
    Including last Saturday's win vs. Saint Katherine, Judkins now owns a 581-279 (.675) overall record during his time at both Dixie State and Snow College (1992-2005).
    Heading into Saturday night's game vs. Denver, Judkins is one shy of tying legendary University of Utah head women's basketball coach Elaine Elliott, who recorded 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.

MILESTONE #2 ALSO ON THE HORIZON: Coach Judkins is also close to another coaching milestone as he is now three victories away from win No. 300 on the Dixie State sideline. 
    Coach Judkins is 297-151 (.663) in 16-plus years at Dixie State, including a 277-139 (.666) mark in the program's NCAA era. 

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, which includes a 4-1 start this year, 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 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 win over Saint Katherine last Saturday, Dixie State is now 85-76 (.528) 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).

RELEASE...ROTATION...SPLASH: Dixie State has hit at least one 3-pointer in 119-straight games, including a season-high 11 trifectas (8 in the first half) vs. Saint Katherine last Saturday, and eight made treys in the season opener at Gonzaga (11/9).  
    Dixie State knocked down 10 or more 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. USK (12/5). 
    That effort was one off the school record of 13 first set at Carroll College on Nov. 11, 2008, and the Blazers have reached double-figures in made 3-pointers 22 times in its four-year era overall. 
    In all, Dixie State has hit at least one three pointer in 320 of its last 322 games overall, and in 415 of the program's 418 NCAA-era games since the beginning of the 2006-07 season.

DUNK YOU VERY MUCH: For just the seventh time in the program's NCAA era, 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 back on Nov. 22.
    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 417 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).

STOP....THIEF: While the Blazer offense hitting on all cylinders in last week's two-game 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. 

IT'S DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN: Dixie State snapped its four-game losing streak in a big way with a pair of carbon-copy blowout victories over Bethesda University last week. 
    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.

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. 
    In addition, last week marked just the third instance in the four-year era that DSU had scored 90-plus points in at least three-straight games. Late in the 2013-14 season, DSU tallied 90 or more points in five-straight games and in six of seven games overall (2/8-to-3/1) with two 100-plus point games.
    Then in 2015-16, the Trailblazers scored north of 90 points in four-straight home games (2/6-15) and eight times overall, going a perfect 8-0 in those outings.
    Dixie State is 55-6 all-time when scoring at least 90 points, including a 43-5 mark in games of 90-99 points, and a 12-1 record when the Blazers eclipse the century mark. 

"SCORE"FIELD GETTING IT DONE: After being held to five points in the opener at Gonzaga (11/9), Schofield has been on tear, scoring in double figures in each of his next eight starts (16.4 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. In fact, his 10 rebounds vs. BU, and seven more caroms vs. USK last Saturday, moved him into ninth place on DSU's career rebounding list (351; 5.8 rpg - t-6th on career list).      
    Schofield (895 points), who poured in a team-high 16 points vs. USK last Saturday, is now five points shy of becoming the eighth player in DSU's NCAA era to score 900 career points, and he is ranked third all-time in career scoring average (14.9 ppg). 

GOODEN-PLENTY: Gooden has scored in double figures in seven of his nine starts this season, this includes averaging 12.0 points and 3.1 assists during DSU's current 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 last Saturday.
    Gooden 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). 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 21 of 30 games as a Trailblazer, and has led or co-led the team in scoring 14 times overall. 

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 four of his last five starts overall, including a pair of 10-point nights in both Bethesda wins (11/30-12/1), and 11 points with three 3-pointers last Saturday vs. USK ... the sophomore forward has scored 10 or more points in 28 of his 59 career games as a Trailblazer. 
* - Staine also became eligible to be ranked on DSU's career 3FG percentage list in the USK win, where he debuted at No. 7 (78-of-204, .382) ... Staine's 78 made 3FGs are also good for ninth on DSU's career list.
* - 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 ... 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 last Saturday (8 vs. SUU - 11/12).  
* - Junior forward Dancell Leter reached double figures for the second time during the homestand (and third time this season) with 13 points in the USK win ... Leter hit 7-of-8 at the line and pulled down a co-game high seven boards. 
* - 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 last Saturday ... 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 poured a season-high 14 points in G1 vs. Bethesda (11/30) ... the 14 points were one off of his career high of 15 he set last January at home vs. New Mexico (1/13).
* - After throwing down just three total dunks in 21 games last season, the Trailblazers already have seven dunks through the first nine games this year - all of which have come over the last five games, including three last Saturday vs. USK.
* - Sophomore reserve guard Jamaal Barnes has accounted for two of those dunks, one in both wins vs. Bethesda last week ... Barnes has averaged 8.0 points during DSU's three-game win streak, highlighted by a season high nine points in G2 vs. Bethesda (12/1). 
* - 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 (D-II) 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 combined to outscore the Bethesda reserves by a 101-55 clip in the two wins ... bolstered by Allfrey and Mulibea, the Blazer bench accounted for 57 points (57-43) in game one (11/30), which was followed the next night (12/1) by a lopsided 44-12 spread. 
* - Through nine games, DSU's bench has outscored its opponent reserves by a 280-237 margin (31.1 ppg-26.3 ppg), and in six of nine 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 48 of its last 140 games overall, though the Blazers shot a season-high 57.6 percent (34-of-59) last Saturday vs. USK ... DSU also posted a 51.7 clip (31-of-60) in the SUU win (11/12), and a 50.7 percent (36-of-71) night in the first Bethesda win (11/30). 
*- 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 143 games decided by nine points or less, including 11 of 30 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. 
* - 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 79 of its last 116 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 DENVER "PIONEERS": Saturday's game vs. Dixie State will be the final stop on Denver's current six-game road swing, a swing that has seen the Pioneers drop the first five games, including an 87-67 loss at New Mexico on Thursday night at "The Pit" in Albuquerque.
    Junior guard KJ Hunt (6-3) is the Pioneers' top scorer (15.6 ppg), rebounder (4.4 rpg) and facilitator (3.9 apg), and co-leads the team in steals (15; 1.3 spg). Hunt has led DU in scoring six times and has scored 10 or more points in 10 of 11 games overall. 

UP NEXT: Dixie State will close out its six-game homestand this Wednesday night against SAGU American Indian College. Tip-off inside the Burns Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.