Dixie State University (9-0) v. University of Hawaii-Hilo (3-8) at Burns Arena, 7:30 p.m. at St. George, UT
Broadcast: ESPN Radio 106.1 FM, CEC-TV
VULCANS
Coach: G. E. Coleman
Record: 3-16 (0-13 Pacific West)
Streak: 14 losses
PPG: 73.0
PAPG: 78.8
Probable starters: Darnell Williams (G, 5’11”, 12.1 ppg), Joey Rodriguez (G, 6’0”, 14.1 ppg), Derek Owens (G, 6’1”, 9.5 ppg), Brandon Thomas (F, 6’6”, 9.1 ppg), Dominique Campbell (F, 6’7, 5.8 ppg)
Other key contributors: Jeff Perkins (F, 6’6”, 3.6 ppg), Lucas Swanson (G, 6’2”, 7.6 ppg), Yevgeniy Diachenko (G, 6’4”, 6.3 ppg)
RED STORM
Coach: Jon Judkins
Record: 17-4 overall, 11-4 in Pac West Conference
Streak: 2 wins
PPG: 84.8
PAPG: 77.2
Probable starters: Kimball Payne (G, 6’0”, 9.3 ppg), DeQuan Thompson (G, 6’3”, 15.0 ppg), Jordan Rex (C, 6’9”, 5.4 ppg), Zach Robbins (F, 6’10” 15.9 ppg), Dalton Groskreutz (F, 6’6”, 13.2 ppg)
Other key contributors: Mason Sawyer (G, 5’10”, 6.9 ppg), Louis Garrett (F, 6’6” 9.8 ppg), Curtis Papenfuss (F, 6’8”, 4.2 ppg), Robbie Nielson (G, 6’4”, 6.4 ppg), Landon Clegg (G, 6’4, 2.1 ppg)
Game outlook: The last time these teams played Dixie needed overtime to get past the Vulcans. Dixie was hampered by turnovers which led to easy scores by UHH at the other end. UHH has lost every game since the last meeting and is riding a 14-game losing streak. However the Vulcans are coming off one of their better performances of the season, falling to Chaminade 86-83. In that game, their three-guard combo of Rodriguez, Williams and Owens combined to hit 61 percent of their shots, scoring 52 points. UHH does not match up well with Dixie State’s size. In their last meeting, Robbins and Thompson each scored 23 points. Garrett missed the game due to injury. Dixie jumped out quickly in that game to a 5-point lead in the overtime and then held onto it. Dixie is coming off an overtime thriller over BYU-H. They will need to close out on UHH’s long-range shooters and exploit the mismatches inside.
Women’s basketball
Dixie State and Hawaii-Hilo also square off in women’s hoops this evening. DSU, 10-11 overall and 8-7 in the PacWest, is led by senior guard Haley Holmstead, who is averaging 22.3 points per game. Hilo, 6-11 and 5-8, is led by Kamie Imai who is averaging 11.7 ppg and also leads the team in rebounding at 7.8 pg. The Lady Vulcans have lost five straight. Tonight’s women’s game tips off at 5 p.m. at Burns Arena and can be heard on 91.3 FM.
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