College hoops preview: Dixie State (15-4, 9-4) vs. Holy Names (5-16, 4-9), at Burns Arena
Game time: 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast: ESPN Radio 106.1 FM; CEC-TV
HAWKS
Coach: Omar Sanchez
Record: 5-16, 4-9 Pac West Conference
Streak: 2 losses
PPG: 67.8
PAPG: 76.6
Probable starters: Harold Perry, Jr. (F, 6’6″, 14.2 ppg), Terrance Swayne (F, 6’7″, 2.7 ppg), Joshua Crum (G, 5’11″, 11.5 ppg), Kurtis Ong (G, 5’10″, 2.7 ppg), Dalton Dale (G, 6’3″, 2.8 ppg)
Other key contributors: Dante Robinson (F, 6’6″, 10.2 ppg), Carl Dorn (G, 5’10″, 8.4 ppg), Josh Kasim (G, 6’0”, 4.0 ppg)
RED STORM
Coach: Jon Judkins
Record: 15-4 overall, 9-4 in Pac West Conference
Streak: 1 loss
PPG: 84.3
PAPG: 76.8
Probable starters: Kimball Payne (G, 6’0″, 9.0 ppg), DeQuan Thompson (G, 6’3″, 15.1 ppg), Jordan Rex (C, 6’9″, 5.2 ppg), Zach Robbins (F, 6’10″, 16.2 ppg), Dalton Groskreutz (F, 6’6″, 13.4 ppg)
Other key contributors: Mason Sawyer (G, 5’10″, 7.1 ppg), Louis Garrett (F, 6’6″, 9.4 ppg), Curtis Papenfuss (F, 6’8″, 4.2 ppg), Landon Clegg (G, 6’4″, 2.1 ppg), Robbie Nielson (G, 6’4″, 5.3 ppg)
Game outlook: The Red Storm sit squarely in third place in the Pacific West, one game behind Chaminade and 3 ½ games behind Cal Baptist. They have four remaining conference games against the upper echelon of the conference, BYU-Hawaii, Chaminade and CBU at home and Dominican on the road. DSU will have to win out to have any chance of a regular-season title. The two teams in front of them have more difficult schedules. Dominican, at 10-5, has only one remaining game against the upper echelon and that will be hosting the Red Storm on Feb.20. While HNU has not fared well this season, one game does stick out. The Hawks did beat Hawaii Pacific last week, hitting free throws to thwart the Sea Warriors comeback. So they are capable of beating an elite conference team. The Hawks are led by Harold Perry, Jr. But the Hawks actually have more scoring from their bench than from their starters. Robinson and Dorn come off the bench, but actually lead the team in minutes played per game. HNU also got early-season contributions from Tyler Fry (G, 6’3”, 8.3 ppg) and Yasin Vernaza (F, 6’7”, 9.2 ppg), but neither has played since early January. Fry is no longer with the team, while Vernaza has been hampered with an injury.
Women’s Basketball
Dixie State’s women’s basketball team also plays Holy Names University this evening. The Lady Storm are 8-11 and 6-7 in conference and the Lady Hawks are 9-10 and 5-8. Tipoff is at 5 p.m at Burns Arena and is broadcast on 91.3 FM.