ST. GEORGE, Utah – Ali Faruq-Bey totaled 15 points and five rebounds as Western Oregon dropped a 78-73 decision to host Dixie State in the DSU Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday at the Burns Arena.
 
Tanner Omlid registered 11 points, seven assists, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks while Demetrius Trammell hit a trio of 3-pointers finishing with nine points off the bench for the Wolves (3-3).
 
Dixie State (3-3) led 20-8 in the opening half, but never surrendered the lead after leading 37-35 at the break.
 
Josh Fuller totaled a career-high 30 points and added 13 rebounds for Dixie State. The Trailblazers also received 14 points from Zac Hunter and 13 points, eight assists from Brandon Simister.
 
Playing back-to-back games for the third consecutive weekend, the Wolves surrendered a 12-point lead at the 12:30-mark of the first half. WOU immediately responded with a 12-2 run to pull within two. Yanick Kulich sparked the run on a jump shot and Evan Garrison tallied the final four points with a jumper and charity shots.
 
Trammell hit his first three to tie the game at 26-all and his second connection from deep gave the Wolves just their second lead of the game at 31-28. A free-throw advantage down the stretch allowed Dixie State to pull ahead at halftime by two.
 
The Trailblazers extended their lead early in the second half. The Wolves trailed by as many as 11 with 7:12 remaining and cut Dixie State's advantage back to four – 73-69 – on a driving layup from Faruq-Bey at the :26 mark.
 
Dixie State made five of its final six free throws in the closing seconds to take control of the game.
 
In all, Dixie State made 25 of 40 free throws, converting at a 62.5 percent clip. Western Oregon was 13 of 19 from the line (68.4 percent) for the game. The Wolves forced the Trailblazers into 18 turnovers, including 12 WOU steals.
 
Western Oregon returns home for its Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener against Concordia (2-3) on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Game time is at 7 p.m. inside the New P.E. Building.