ST. GEORGE, Utah—Dixie State led from start to finish during a 81-72 win over Hawai`i Hilo on Saturday night at the Burns Arena, and in doing so gifted their head coach Jon Judkins with his 500^th career victory.

The Trailblazers also won their ninth game in their last ten starts, improving to 14-5 on the season and to 11-2 in the Pacific West Conference. UHH dropped to 4-7 in conference play and to 6-11 overall.

Jenkins, in his 12 season at Dixie State, also served 12 years at Snow College and is now 500-234 in his collegiate career.

Parker Farris led the Vulcans with 17 points, while Ryley Callaghan added 13, Randan Berinobis 11 and Darius Johnson-Wilson 10. Brian Ishola was one digit shy of a double-double with nine points and ten boards.

Dixie State led from just after the opening tap. They took an 11-4 lead and then a few moments later went on a 11-0 run to push their margin to 22-9. During that spell the Vulcans were stone cold, hitting just three of their first 21 shots including one of seven from three-point range.

Farris scored almost half of UHH's points in the first half, including a trio of treys to keep the Vulcans within reach at the break, 39-30. The lead was less than double digits despite the fact that the Vuls shot just 26 percent while Dixie State nailed 59 percent of its floor attempts.

Even though Farris wouldn't score again for almost 16 minutes, the Vulcans made a solid run at their hosts in the second half. Using a pair of three-pointers by Callaghan and eventually a lay-in by Ishola, they pulled within four points (48-44) with 13:52 to go. They would be down just five digits a few minutes later after an Eric Wattree three-pointer (56-51).

Although Dixie State would push their lead back to ten points, the Vulcans would continue to battle back. They got back to within five points twice—with 2:46 left after a pair of Johnson-Wilson free throws (72-67) and at 2:00 left on an Ishola basket (74-69).

But turnovers and missed shots from the field, along with Trailblazer free throw conversions sealed UHH's fate as Dixie State expanded its lead to 12 points again before settling for the 81-72 final.

The Vulcans hit 10-of-27 three-point attempts in the game, but shot just 35 percent overall from the field. Dixie State had a 56 percent field goal clip. The Trailblazers also out-rebounded their visitors, 46-33.

UH Hilo will play game two of this four-game road swing, taking on 18-1 California Baptist on Monday in Riverside.