HELENA, MONT. (December 9) – Tom Whitehead scored 15 of his game-high 21 points in the second half and the Dixie State College defense held the Carroll College Fighting Saints to 27-percent shooting behind the arc in the same period to pull away securing a 68-56 road win in non-conference play.
Dixie State (6-3) recovered from a below-average field goal percentage in the first half to connect on 52.2-percent (12-of-23) in the final 20 minutes. Whitehead led the way draining eight buckets from the field including four from behind the three-point arc.
Donovan Plunkett shot well en route to 13 points, his first double-digit scoring output in the last five games. Solomon Jensen added 11 points going four-of-six from the field. Everton Araujo ripped down a career-high nine rebounds, five on the offensive glass.
The Red Storm jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first four minutes, but the Fighting Saints (7-3) drained four triples to leap ahead 22-19 with 6:39 left to the break. DSC clamped down on the perimeter holding Carroll to five points in the final five minutes. A pair of late free throws gave Dixie State the halftime advantage at 29-27.
The second half remained tight with no team gaining more than a six-point lead culminating in a 48-48 stalemate. Dixie State shifted into a more aggressive gear leading to the game’s most definitive run – a 14-4 spurt giving the Red Storm a 10-point lead with 2:57 remaining.
Andy Garland paced Carroll College with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Dixie State sank 41.5-percent of their field goals while holding Carroll to 36.4-percent. Despite both teams having 12 offensive rebounds, the Storm took the overall board battle 31-29.
The Red Storm finish off a two-game Montana swing on Saturday at 5:15 p.m. against the Yellowjackets of MSU-Billings. Last season, DSC and MSUB split a pair of games with each team winning at home by three points.
Join John Potter on the Dixie State Radio Network – Classical 91.3FM and Network1Sports.com – for tip to buzzer action from Alterowitz Gymnasium beginning at 5 p.m.