cGametime: 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast: ESPN Radio 106.1 FM
URBAN KNIGHTS
Coach: Julius Barnes
Record: 4-14, 2-9 Pac West Conference
Streak: 2 losses
PPG: 72.1
PAPG: 78.7
Probable starters: Alex Carmon (G, 6’3″, 17.4 ppg), Alexis Moore (G, 6’3″, 16.8 ppg), Aaron Anderson (G, 6’0″, 8.7 ppg), Aaron Aikman (F, 6’8″, 10.1 ppg), Rodrigo Maza (F/C, 6’10″, 8.5 ppg)
Other key contributors: Herman Pratt (G, 5’11″, 7.7 ppg), Sergio Valdelmillos (G, 6’2″, 4.1 ppg), Matt Cesca (F, 6’6”, 1.5 ppg)
RED STORM
Coach: Jon Judkins
Record: 14-3 overall, 8-3 in Pac West Conference
Streak: 1 loss
PPG: 82.9
PAPG: 76.0
Probable starters: Kimball Payne (G, 6’0″, 9.3 ppg), DeQuan Thompson (G, 6’3″, 15.4 ppg), Jordan Rex (C, 6’9″, 5.5 ppg), Zach Robbins (F, 6’10″, 16.8 ppg), Dalton Groskreutz (F, 6’6″, 13.6 ppg)
Other key contributors: Mason Sawyer (G, 5’10″, 7.0 ppg), Louis Garrett (F, 6’6″, 9.4 ppg), Curtis Papenfuss (F, 6’8″, 3.3 ppg), Landon Clegg (G, 6’4″, 1.8 ppg), Robbie Nielson (G, 6’4″, 4.9 ppg)
Game outlook: DSU begins a welcome six-game home stand after dropping two of their last three on the road. AAU sits near the bottom of the Pac West standings, but counts Point Loma as one of their two conference wins. This past week the Knights took BYU-Hawaii to overtime before losing. Also, seven of their losses have been by two possessions or less. They are led by Carmon, who returned after being benched for two games, and Moore. While they can match DSU’s Robbins with the 6-10 Maza in size, the Knights are significantly smaller in the other match-ups, with very little size coming off the bench. The Knights have held their own on the boards, out-rebounding their opponents by two per game. Where AAU struggles is its shooting percentage, hitting only 42 percent of shots. The Knights also average four more turnovers per game than opponents. Dixie State is coming off a last-second, two-point loss to Point Loma despite a monster game from Robbins (27 points, 11 rebounds). While Robbins shot 67 percent from the floor on 12 of 18 shooting, the rest of the team combined for only 12 of 42 (29 percent). Hopefully the return to Burns Arena will improve that number. With Groskreutz and Garrett finally healthy, DSU should be able to take advantage of its next six games at home with large crowds expected.
Women’s Basketball
Dixie State’s women’s basketball team also plays Academy of Art University this afternoon. The Lady Storm are 8-9 and 6-5 in conference and the Lady Sea Lions are 13-6 and 10-1. Tipoff is at 5 p.m at Burns Arena and is broadcast on 91.3 FM.
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