MONMOUTH, Ore.-Friday, the No. 6 (NABC Coaches poll)/No 5 (D2SIDA poll) Dixie State Trailblazers (10-0, 5-0 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play) leave RMAC action for a non-conference tilt against the Western Oregon Wolves (5-2, 0-2 in conference play) of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Trailblazers are one of only six undefeated teams in NCAA Division II. The others are Dallas Baptist, West Chester, Indiana (Pa.), Bellarmine and Drury.
Trailblazers head coach Jon Judkins (556-254, .686 as a head coach; 272-126, .683 at Dixie State) in his 15th season at the helm of the program is only 27 wins away from surpassing Utah women’s head coach Elaine Elliott (1983-2011) for the most wins in Utah college basketball history. Elliott amassed 582 victories while coaching the Utes.
The Trailblazers are coming off a successful sweep of New Mexico Highlands (109-108) and Colorado State-Pueblo (81-69) on their first road trip of the season.
Dixie State currently averages 84.8 points per game, ranking them 52nd nationally in scoring offense.
Junior forward-center Hunter Schofield is the Trailblazers’ overall statistical leader. He leads the Trailblazers in scoring (19 points per game), rebounds (7.6 per game) and blocked shots (7).
Senior guard Jack Pagenkopf (12 points, 7.3 rebounds per game) showcases his versatility by leading the Trailblazers in assists (64) and steals (18).
Rising star freshman forward Frank Staine (11.5 points per game) and junior guard Dason Youngblood (10.9 points per game) score in double figures on average for the Trailblazers as well.
The Trailblazers surrender 74.4 points per game, ranking them 157th nationally in scoring defense.
The Wolves are coached by Wes Pifer (5-2, .714) who is in his first season at the helm. He is a former assistant at Division I schools Northern Arizona and North Carolina-Central.
Western Oregon scores 81.4 points per game, ranking the Wolves 89th in scoring offense nationally.
The Wolves are led by senior guard Dalven Brushier (18.4 points, 4.4 rebounds per game) and junior guard Darius Lubom (15.3 points, 4.7 rebounds per game, team bests in assists [40] and steals [13]).
Sophomore forward Cameron Cranston (12.7 points, 4.1 rebounds per game) and senior guard Jaylyn Richardson (12.7 points, a team-best 5.3 rebounds per game) also score in double figures on average for the Wolves.
Sophomore forward John Morrill-Keeler has a team-best 7 blocked shots on the season for Western Oregon.
The Wolves surrender 75.1 points per game, ranking them 173rd nationally in scoring defense.
The Trailblazers and Wolves are tied 3-3 all-time in their series and Dixie State is 1-2 all-time at Monmouth, Ore.
