Box Score ST. GEORGE, Utah – Setting the tone early with a 13-0 run to begin the game, Dixie State cruised to a 78-56 nonconference victory over visiting Montana State University Billings Tuesday evening inside Burns Arena.
 
The Red Storm (1-0) used a balanced attack, as four different players scored in double figures in the season-opening win. Mason Sawyer led all players with 18 points, and also had a team-best five assists in the victory.
 
Sawyer got the Red Storm going early, scoring the first seven points of the game with a 3-pointer, a layup off of a steal and a jumper. DSU never looked back after the early boost, leading by double figures for the entire game.

"What we saw tonight was a very good team and an even better program," said MSUB head coach Jamie Stevens. "There's a reason why they go to the NCAA tournament every year. They play the game the right way and it shows, and we were outclassed in every aspect tonight especially coaching."
 
Zach Robbins turned in 15 points for DSU, and completed a double-double with a dozen rebounds. Mark Ogden (12) and DeQuan Thompson (10) were DSU's other double-figure scorers.
 
As a team DSU shot 51.7 percent from the field compared to a 38.2 percent mark by MSUB. The Red Storm also held the advantage in rebounds, 39-31, and thoroughly outscored the 'Jackets in the paint 44-12.
 
For MSUB (0-3), Marc Matthews finished with a team-best 13 points on 5 of 12 shooting and 3 of 5 from 3-point range. Matthews also grabbed six rebounds and had a pair of assists. Gary Gordon was MSUB's other double-digit scorer with 10 points, and freshman point guard Kendall Denham led the squad with seven rebounds.
 
Emmanuel Johnson finished with seven points, six rebounds and two assists for MSUB, while senior Austin Hudson posted eight points and five boards – all defensive – for the 'Jackets.
 
Denham added a 2-for-6 line from 3-point range to Matthews's total, but the 'Jackets were just 6-for-19 overall from long distance. The 'Jackets also got beat in terms of second-chance points, posting just four while the Red Storm collected 12.
 
The Red Storm extended their lead to 21-4 midway through the first, maintaining momentum and knocking down shots. Matthews gave the 'Jackets a burst with five-straight points on a three and a jumper, but Robbins countered with a layup as the score moved to 23-9 in favor of DSU.

Ogden completed a 3-point play with 6:16 remaining in the first, further extending DSU's lead to 30-11. Maintaining a 20-point advantage into the closing minutes of the first, the Red Storm headed to the locker room with a 43-20 lead at the break.
 
The Red Storm held on to the lead through the second half, moving into the final 10 minutes comfortably ahead. A three by Matthews cut the deficit to 17 points at 61-44.
 
The 'Jackets had difficulty penetrating DSU's tough zone defense in the second, preventing the team from cutting into the lead. Eating up the clock down the stretch, DSU cruised comfortably to the victory in its first game of the 2014-15 season.
 
UP NEXT: The 'Jackets return to Billings for their home opener on Thursday against Rocky Mountain College. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside Alterowitz Gym, and the Yellowjackets will wear throwback jerseys in honor of the university's previous moniker of Eastern Montana College.