Box Score

ST. GEORGE, Utah – Brendan Carroll poured in a career-high 30 points Saturday, leading the Seattle Pacific to an 80-74 non-conference victory over the host school on the final day of the Dixie State Classic men's basketball tournament at Burns Arena.
 
The Falcons rebounded from Friday's season-opening 68-60 overtime loss to Concordia (Calif.) to even their record at 1-1.
 
Carroll doubled his previous high-point game of 15, scored against Saint Martin's on Jan. 4, 2013. He drained 10 of 16 shots from the field, including a 9-for-12 performance from the 3-point line. Those were the most treys made by a Falcon since Patrick Simon amassed a school-record total of 10 on Nov. 29, 2013 versus San Francisco State.

 

Senior point guard Bryce Leavitt contributed 14 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds for the Falcons.
 
The Falcons built a huge lead early and held off a second-half comeback effort by Dixie State.
 
The Falcons were unselfish, notching 13 assists in their first 16 baskets. That provided an early 41-28 lead. SPU's give-and-go plays were lethal, setting up easy baskets. Similarly, SPU's drive-and-dish offense was effective, particularly on an impressive no-look pass that resulted in a 3-point swish by Carroll.
 
Excellent passing led to many such open opportunities for the Falcons, who hit a stellar 56 percent (9 of 16) of their first-half treys.
 
SPU controlled play during the first half, possessing the ball for 15 minutes, or 75 percent of the time.
 
The second half began much like the first half ended, with SPU extending its lead courtesy of Carroll. Though he was clearly the MVP on the night, his preeminent performance came three minutes into the first half.
 
Carroll scored a jumper and a 3-pointer in quick succession. The senior guard proceeded to steal the ball on the next possession, converting yet another 3-pointer at the other end of the court to finish the play.
 
On the night, the Falcons actually shot slightly better from 3-point range at 51.9 percent (14 of 27) than they did inside the arc at 50.0 (10 of 20). Garrett Swanson hit 2 of 3 treys and Will Parker made 2 of 4.
 
Defensively, the Falcons ensured that Dixie State's downtown success would not emulate their own. SPU pressed the edge of the 3-point line hard all night, limiting Dixie State to 5 of 15 (33%) from deep.
 
The difference in 3 point shooting proved to be the difference maker in the game, as SPU's high number of turnovers (15 to Dixie's 10) allowed the Red Storm to make a substantial comeback effort in the second half.
 
The hosts trailed by as many as 22 points when Carroll put SPU up 63-41 on a trey with 13:15 left to play. They closed the gap to 73-69 on a dunk by Mark Ogden Jr. with 2:05 remaining.
 
The Falcons sealed the win by converting 7 of 8 free throws during the final 1:09.
 
Trevor Hill led four Dixie double-digit scorers with 20 points. Ogden finished with 15, Mason Sawyer with 11 and Josh Fuller with 10.
 
The SPU men play their home openers next weekend in the Sodexo Challenge at Brougham Pavilion. They host BYU-Hawaii on Friday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. in a rematch of last season's NCAA Tournament first-round clash, won 81-69 by the Falcons. On Saturday, Nov. 21 they entertain Hawaii-Hilo at 3 p.m.
 
 
NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL
Dixie State Classic
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015
Burns Arena/St. George, Utah
 
Seattle Pacific 80, at Dixie State 74
 
SEATTLE PACIFIC (1-1)
Simpson -4 3-4 6, Penner 4-8 1-2 9, Dierickx 3-3 0-0 6, Carroll 10-16 1-2 30, Colosimo 0-1 0-0 0, Leavitt 1-4 12-16 14, Wooten 0-0 1-2 1, Parker 2-5 0-0 6, Rasmussen 0-0 0-0 0, Streufert 0-1 0-0 0, Swanson 3- 0-2 8. Totals 24-47 18-29 80
 
DIXIE STATE (1-1)
Nielson 1-4 2-2 4, Ogden 5-9 5-6 15, Fuller 3-5 4-6 10, Sawyer 3-9 3-4 11, Hill 7-17 4-4 20, Simister 2-6 4-4 9, Hunter 1-3 1-2 3, Matthews 1-1 0-0 2, Youngblood 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-54 23-30 74.
 
Seattle Pacific...............  48   32   -  80
Dixie State...................  31   43   -  74
 
3-point goals--SPU 14-27 (Carroll 9-12, Swanson 2-3, Parker 2-4, Simpson 1-3, Colosimo 0-1, Leavitt 0-2, Penner 0-1), DSU 5-15 (Hill 2-4, Sawyer 2-6, Simister 1-3, Fuller 0-1, Hunter 0-1). Fouled out--SPU-Dierickx, Streufert, DSU-Nielson, Fuller. Rebounds--SPU 31 (Leavitt 8), DSU 33 (Ogden 8). Assists--SPU 20 (Leavitt 12), DSU 10 (Sawyer 4). Total fouls--SPU 27, DSU 25. Technical fouls--SPU-None, DSU-None. A-1572.
 
 
Next SPU Men's Basketball Game
Sodexo Challenge
BYU-Hawaii at Seattle Pacific
Friday, Nov. 20, 7:00 p.m. PST
Brougham Pavilion / Seattle, Wash.