ST. GEORGE, UTAH – Four Dixie State College players scored in double-figures led by tournament MVP Tom Whitehead (St. George. UT/Dixie) with 17 points en route to a 78-75 victory in the DSC Classic over Montana State-Billings in front of a raucous crowd inside the Burns Arena.>>
> >
Senior forward Nick Howard (Sandy. UT/Jordan) netted 10 of his 16 points from the foul line. Andy Palmer (St. George. UT/Pine View), an all-tourney selection - scored 13 and Donovan Plunkett added 12 points. Whitehead and Palmer pulled down a team-high seven rebounds while Howard added six. Dixie State (4-1) shot a blistering 56.1-percent from the floor (23-41) to overcome a five-point halftime deficit.>>
> >
The Storm controlled the early tempo and led 19-13 with 12:31 left in the first after an Adam Ross (Torrance. CA/North Torrance ) three pointer. MSU-Billings chipped away, but could not get a lead until the final minute and a half of the first period. Lasha Parghalava sank a pair of free throws to push the Jackets ahead 40-38. DSC’s Jeremiah Barnes (Compton, CA/Los Altos) tied the game with a pair from the line. MSUB ended the half on a 5-0 run highlighted by a banked three-pointer from DeAndre Chambers, another all-tournament selection.>>
> >
In near opposite to the first half, the Yellowjackets held control of the opening minutes of the second half extending their lead to as many as eight. Dixie State seized the lead from the line with six straight foul makes by Howard and Barnes. The score would see saw four more times until the final 1:39. >>
> >
Whitehead hit a critical three from the corner to give DSC a one-point cushion at 76-75. With five ticks left, Chambers missed a runner in the paint; Whitehead boarded the miss and was fouled. After making both foul shots, Dixie State led by three with 3.1 seconds remaining. The Jackets put the ball in Parghalava’s hands, but the guard could not get off the shot from inside half court securing Dixie State the win.>>
> >
Parghalava and Chambers each had 19 points to pace the Jackets (3-2). >>
> >
Northwest Nazarene’s Drew Eisinger and Dominican’s Alex Ward were also named to the DSC Classic All-Tournament Team.>>
> >
Dixie State travels to Cal State Dominguez Hills next Saturday night for a non-conference tilt. Tipoff is scheduled for 6pm Mountain from the Torodome. John Potter will have all of the live radio coverage beginning at 5:45pm with the Dixie State Warm-Up Show on Classical 91.3FM and Network1Sports.com.>>
> >
DIXIE STATE CLASSIC ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM>>
Tom Whitehead (Dixie State) – 36 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks (Tour. MVP)>>
Andy Palmer (Dixie State) – 30 points, 12 rebounds>>
DeAndre Chambers (MSU Billings) – 34 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists>>
Drew Eisinger (Northwest Nazarene) – 46 points (Classic Leading Scorer), 8 rebounds>>
Alex Ward (Dominican) – 22 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists
>
MVP Tom Whitehead led DSC with 17 points in 78-75 win over MSU Billings
>
