DENVER/CHADRON, Neb.-Friday and Saturday, No. 19 (in both the coaches and D2SIDA polls) Dixie State (11-2, 6-1 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play) visits Metro State (6-7, 2-5 in RMAC play) and Chadron State (3-10, 2-5 in RMAC play) as their conference season continues.
In his 15th season at the helm of the Trailblazers’ program, head coach Jon Judkins (273-128, .681 at Dixie State; 557-256, .685 as a collegiate head coach) continues to draw ever closer to the all-time lead in coaching wins in Utah college basketball history.
Former University of Utah women’s head coach Elaine Elliott (1983-2008) currently has the all-time wins lead in Beehive State college hoops with 582 wins.
The Trailblazers score 82.8 points per game which ranks Dixie State 61st nationally in scoring offense.
Junior forward/center Hunter Schofield leads the Trailblazers in scoring (18.1 points per game), rebounding (7.5 boards per game) and blocked shots (11).
Senior guard Jack Pagenkopf (13 points, 6.7 rebounds per game) leads Dixie State in assists (82) and steals (26).
Freshman forward Frank Staine (10.8 points per game) and junior guard Dason Youngblood (10.7 points per game) also score in double figures on-average for the Trailblazers.
Dixie State surrenders 75.1 points per game which ranks the Trailblazers 168th nationally in scoring defense.
Metro State is coached by Michael Bahl (33-35, .485) who is in his third season at the helm of the Roadrunners’ program.
Metro State scores 72.1 points per game, ranking the Roadrunners 231st nationally in scoring offense.
Senior guard Druce Asah (14.6 points per game) is the sole Metro State player to score in double figures on-average.
Australian national, junior forward Maris Colton leads the Roadrunners in rebounding (5.5 boards per game).
Senior guard Mitch Lombard leads Metro State in assists (50) and steals (17).
Senior forward Kendall McIntosh leads the Roadrunners with 17 blocked shots.
The Roadrunners surrender 70.7 points per game which ties them for 77th nationally in scoring defense with Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Metro State leads Dixie State 2-1 all-time.
Chadron State is coached by Houston Reed who is 21-74 (.221) in his fourth season at the helm of the Eagles’ program.
Chadron State scores 73 points per game which ties the Eagles for 220th nationally in scoring defense with Hillsdale.
Senior forward Brian Rodriguez-Flores leads Chadron State in scoring (17.2 points per game) and rebounding (5.6 boards per game).
Redshirt sophomore forward Jacob Jefferson (11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds per game) and senior guard Colby Jackson (10.4 points per game, a team-best 76 steals) also score in double figures on-average for the Eagles.
Junior guard/forward Andrew Walker leads Chadron State with 14 steals and junior forward Kenan Gray has a team-best 9 blocked shots for the Eagles.
Chadron State surrenders 73.7 points per game which ranks the Eagles 146th nationally in scoring defense.
The Eagles lead the Trailblazers 1-0 all-time, having upset Dixie State 64-61 at St. George last January 12.
