DSC Celebrates Senior Day; HPU Awaits in Home Finale
UP NEXT: Dixie State College of Utah closes the 2009-2010 regular season hosting the Hawaii Pacific Sea Warriors on Saturday, March 6 at 3:00pm in the Burns Arena. Saturday is Senior Day – Dixie State will honor Andy Palmer, Nick Howard and Adam Ross for their contributions to the Red Storm basketball program.
THE RECORDS: DSC enters the game with a 19-5 record after a convincing 80-48 win over Hawaii Hilo on Thursday night. The Red Storm seeks an undefeated season at home – DSC enters 11-0 in the Burns Arena. Hawaii Pacific dropped their last game in double overtime at Grand Canyon 100-91. The Sea Warriors are 19-6 this year with a 11-3 mark in the Pac West.
ALL-TIME SERIES: Dixie State holds a 5-1 all-time series advantage over Hawaii Pacific. DSC holds a three-game win streak dating back to last year. HPU has never beaten Dixie State inside Burns Arena.
BROADCAST INFORMATION: RADIO - Dixie State College basketball games, both home and away, can be heard live on the Red Storm Basketball Radio Network - Classical 91.3 FM and Network1Sports.com online with the voice of the Red Storm, John Potter.
RED STORM WATCH: Tom Whitehead leads the team in scoring average at a 16.3 point per game clip. Donovan Plunkett (13.7) and Andy Palmer (10.5) also average double figures. Freshman Zach Robbins paces the club pulling down 7.3 rebounds a game with Palmer (5.3) and Whitehead (5.2) following. DSC averages 76.2 points a game shooting 47.8% FG while allowing 68.6 points to opponents.
STORM FAST BREAK TIDBITS:
· REGION RANKS – Dixie State remained at #5 in the West in the final regional poll announced by the NCAA on Wednesday. BYU-Hawaii stayed steady at #6. Seattle Pacific and Western Washington of the GNAC remain atop the region.
· CAREER SCORING RANKS - #3 Tom Whitehead (589; 174 points behind #2 Ben Hartman), #5 Andy Palmer (490; 56 points behind #4 Troy Randall), , #8 Donovan Plunkett (328; 68 points behind # 7 Dan Stock), #9 Nick Howard (319, 9 points behind Plunkett), #10 Kevin Lindquist (291; 28 points behind Howard)
· PWC AWARDS – Zach Robbins was named Pac West Player of the Week on Monday. Andy Palmer earned an honor roll spot in the Top 10.
· MILESTONE – With two blocked shots against UHH, Tom Whitehead surpassed 50 for his career. He ranks first in blocks in the D-II era at Dixie State.
· WITHIN REACH – Andy Palmer needs 10 points for 500 career, 6 free throws for 100 career, 12 field goals for 200 career, 11 rebounds for 250 career, 8 steals for 50 career; Tom Whitehead needs 11 points for 600 career, 33 assists for 100 career, 20 three-pointers for 100 career; Adam Ross needs 5 steals for 50 career, 7 assists for 150 career; Donovan Plunkett needs 9 three-pointers for 50 career; Kevin Lindquist needs 9 points for 300 career; Zach Robbins needs 26 rebounds for 200 career
SCOUTING HPU: This year marks the final season in a marvelous coaching career for Tony Sellitto and his Sea Warriors squad is responding with a great season. HPU has a heavy upper-classman roster including an all senior starting five. University of Illinois transfer C.J. Jackson had averaged a double-double this year – 15.8 points and 11.7 rebounds. Leading scorer for the Sea Warriors is guard Mike Helton with 19.2 points per game. Ray Murdock (14.8 PPG) and Norman Wells (12.0) round out four HPU regulars who average double figures. Wells is expected to play in this game after sitting out the contest in Honolulu with an injury. Sellitto is in his 16th season at HPU and has compiled a 323-209 record.