Despite Hunter Schofield scoring 19 of his game-high 26 points after halftime, Dixie State could not overcome a big second half California Baptist run as the Trailblazers were upended, 71-61, on Thursday night inside the Burns Arena.
 
The Blazers (13-15/6-9 WAC) got off to a hot start, hitting their first four shots, including five early points from Schofield with a lay-in and 3-pointer that bookended the run to stake DSU to a 9-0 lead just 2:18 into play.

However, the heat was turned off soon after as Dixie State misfired on its next 11 field goal attempts, committed six turnovers, and managed just two made free throws over the next 10 minutes of the period.

Luckily for the Trailblazers, CBU (15-13/5-10 WAC) did not fare much better as the Lancers opened the game just 3-of-20 from the floor, with all three made fields coming from beyond arc.

DSU finally ended its drought with a Dancell Leter jumper and an Andre Mulibea baseline drive that gave the Trailblazers a 15-9 lead with seven minutes to play until halftime.
 
CBU kept the Blazers within striking distance, thanks to the brother duo of Taran Armstrong and Tre Armstrong, who combined to score 15 of the Lancers' first 20 points, as the Lancers took their first lead of the night at 20-19 following a Reed Nottage bucket at the 2:56 mark.
 
The two side then traded baskets in the rest of frame and retreated to their locker rooms deadlocked at 25 at the intermission.
 
Schofield scored six of DSU's first eight points to begin the second half, but CBU matched each Blazer make to keep it a one-possession game through the first five minutes.

That all changed with 15 minutes to play when Lancer guard Ty Rowell knocked down a 3-pointer, then followed that with an "and one" on CBU's ensuing possession to put his side up 38-33.

Schofield answered with four-straight points of his own to cut the deficit to 38-37, but California Baptist countered with nine unanswered points that capped a 15-4 run to extend to a 47-37 lead with just under 11 minutes to play.
 
Jacob Nicolds finally broke the run with a lay-up, while Brock Gilbert knocked down two clutch 3-pointers that pulled the Blazers to within five at 50-45 with 8:46 to go.
 
CBU quelled the rally with a 9-2 spurt over the next three minutes to push its lead to 12 at 59-47, and the Lancers did not see their cushion dip below seven points the rest of the way to escape with the road conference win.

Schofield connected on 11-of-23 from the field on the night, which included an 8-of-13 clip in the second half. The senior also moved into third place on Dixie State's career rebounds list (477) thanks to a game-high 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season and the ninth of his career.

Leter was the lone other Trailblazer in double figures as he finished with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting.
 
Dixie State wound up shooting 42.1 percent (24-of-57) from the floor, thanks to a 46.7 effort (14-of-30) in the second half. The Blazers struggled from the perimeter, hitting just 3-of-12 (.250) of their attempts, and at the foul line as they shot a season low 52.6 percent (10-of-19) at the charity stripe.
 
Taran Armstrong and Rowell finished with 18 points apiece to pace the Lancers, with Rowell netting 17 of those points after halftime. CBU managed to match Dixie State's overall shooting night (24-of-57; .421), though the Lancers were 9-of-28 (.321) from the perimeter and 14-of-22 (.636) at the line.
 
Dixie State wraps up its 2021-22 home slate on Saturday night when the Trailblazers welcome Seattle U to the Burns Arena. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.