Huge second half run helps Weber pull away from Dixie to stay unbeaten

In the first-ever men's basketball matchup between Weber State (5-0) and Dixie State (1-5), the visiting Wildcats beat the host Trailblazers 87-70 in a battle of the in-state programs.

Dixie held tight with Weber through the first half and midway through the second half, but a 15-4 run put the Wildcats up by 16 with just over eight minutes to play.

"They shot the ball extremely well tonight," said Dixie head coach Jon Judkins. "Our defense just seemed like they were a second behind everything. When you play a team like that and you give up 55% in the first half and 58% in the second half, anybody who shoots that well your chances of winning are pretty bad."

Seikou Sisoho Jawara led the way for Weber with 23 points on 10-16 shooting and 3-6 from distance.

"We tried a lot of different things defensively but it didn't work. They're good," Judkins said. "Them and SUU are the two teams in the Big Sky."

Sisoho Jawara seemed to be the answer for every spark of momentum that Dixie was able to get, whether with a bucket or defensive play at the other end.

Dancell Leter posted career-highs in points with 17 on 7-9 shooting, and in rebounds with eight. Leter also added two steals, showing off energy throughout.

"He's getting there. This is his first year with us so he's learning," Judkins said. "I thought he had a lot of energy... This is his sixth game with me he's getting better and better and he's understanding what I want. I got to get him being tougher and meaner. He's the nicest guy around and he's got to be a little tougher sometimes."

The Paramaribo, Suriname native is third on the team in scoring at 8.8 points per game, behind only Cameron Gooden (14.7) and Hunter Schofield (14.2).

"I haven't been playing my best basketball yet so the coaches have been getting on me for that," Leter said. "I'm trying to keep improving every game the best that I can."

Schofield was the only other Trailblazer in double figures, finishing with 11 points and six rebounds.

Freshman Noa Gonsalves added a career-high nine points of the bench and was aggressive early in the first half for Dixie.

"He's a guy that kind of does everything," Judkins said. "He's not a flashy kind of guy but when you get done with the game and you look at the stats or watching film, you're like 'wow he did a good job.' I thought he was looking to score a lot more in the first half than in the second half."

Judkins highlighted Gonsalves' shooting ability and a play where Gonsalves passed up an open look to drive to the basket only to have a layup attempt blocked.

"I like the drive. He went hard and it got blocked and they made a great play but he had a wide-open three," Judkins said. "He has to take that."

Dixie did manage to out-rebound Weber 34-30, and won the battle in the paint, outscoring Weber 44-32 from close range.

Sean Ellertson is a sports reporter for the St. George Spectrum & Daily News. To continue to support his work, please subscribe to The Spectrum. Follow Sean on Twitter @SeanEllertson.

This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: Weber State pulls away late to beat Dixie State, stay unbeaten