College hoops preview: Dixie State at Point Loma Nazarene

Dixie State University (13-1) vs. Point Loma Nazarene University at Golden Gymnasium in San Diego, Calif., 5 p.m. MDT*
Broadcast: ESPN Radio 106.1 FM

SEA LIONS
plnuCoach: Bill Carr
Record: 10-7, 5-6 Pac West Conference
Streak: 2 losses
PPG: 76.7
PAPG: 69.1
Probable starters: Hayden Lescault (G, 6’5″, 16.8 ppg), Marek Classen (G, 6’1″, 12.8 ppg), A.J. Ussery (C, 6’10″, 8.5 ppg), Sam Okhotin (F, 6’5″, 7.8 ppg), Junior Morgan (F, 6’6″, 14.4 ppg)
Other key contributors: Judd Welfringer (G, 6’5″, 11.7 ppg), Mike Planeta (G, 6’3″, 3.8 ppg), Malcolm Collins (G, 6’4”, 3.5 ppg)

RED STORM
dsulogoCoach: Jon Judkins
Record: 14-2 overall, 8-2 in Pac West Conference
Streak: 1 win
PPG: 84.3
PAPG: 76.8
Probable starters: Kimball Payne (G, 6’0″, 9.3 ppg), DeQuan Thompson (G, 6’3″, 15.6 ppg), Jordan Rex (C, 6’9″, 5.7 ppg), Zach Robbins (F, 6’10″, 15.5 ppg), Dalton Groskreutz (F, 6’6″, 14.5 ppg)
Other key contributors: Mason Sawyer (G, 5’10″, 7.2 ppg), Louis Garrett (F, 6’6″, 9.7 ppg), Curtis Papenfuss (F, 6’8″, 3.5 ppg), Landon Clegg (G, 6’4″, 2.1 ppg), Robbie Nielson (G, 6’4″, 5.1 ppg)

Game outlook: PLNU is one of the few teams that can match the Red Storm in height. The Sea Lions gave DSU problems in their first match-up, winning the battle of the boards 32-26. They also out-shot the Red Storm on Dixie’s home floor. Coming out of the locker room up 15, the Sea Lions imploded with 10 second-half turnovers. The Sea Lions lost by two, but had to go away thinking they let a major upset slip away. For the Red Storm, Groskreutz should be back. Garrett is also playing with the same pre-injury aggressiveness. Dixie is currently third in the conference behind Cal Baptist and Chaminade, who each have one conference loss. Point Loma has only one home loss in conference, a one-point loss to Azusa Pacific at the buzzer. A win here would set Dixie up nicely as the Red Storm return to St. George for a six-game home stand.

Women’s Basketball
Dixie State’s women’s basketball team also plays Point Loma Nazarene University this afternoon. The Lady Storm are 7-9 and 5-5 in conference and the Lady Sea Lions are 8-7 and 6-5. Tipoff is at 3 p.m MDT at Golden Gymnasium and is broadcast on 91.3 FM.

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Twitter: @oldschoolag

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