OPENING TIP:  After beginning the season with three victories, the Snow College men's basketball team will look to continue its winning ways as it welcomes Jump Start Academy and Florida Southwestern State College to town for a pair of games in the Snow College Classic this weekend.
 
The Badgers recorded three convincing victories over Real Salt Lake Academy (128-71), Impact Academy (83-56), and Utah Peaks Prep (117-43) last week.  This season marks the second year in a row the Badgers have gotten out to a 3-0 start to the year.  Snow College started 4-0 last season before losing to FSSC, which was their best start to a season since 2018-19 when they started 13-0.
 
With the victories, Snow College has one of the top offenses in the country averaging just under 110 points per game, which is good for tenth in the nation. The Badgers fall just outside the top ten in defense allowing just 56.7 points per game, which lands them at 14^th overall.
 
The Badgers will take on the Snow Foxes from Jump Start Academy Friday at 7:00 p.m. followed by a showdown with No. 2 FSSC Saturday at 7:00 p.m.  Both games will be played inside the Horne Activity Center in Ephraim.  For video streaming and live stat information, visit snowbadgers.com.
 
HISTORY WITH JUMP START:  The Badgers have only faced the Snow Foxes once before.  Snow College earned a 117-70 victory Nov. 12 last season.  The Badgers used a 65-point second half to pull away and claim the 47-point victory.
 
HISTORY WITH FSSC:  The Badgers have played two games against the Buccaneers in the past with each side winning once.  Snow College won the first meeting between the two in an 81-79 overtime victory Nov. 22, 2019.  The Buccaneers got the better of the Badgers when the two teams met again Nov. 19, 2021.  FSSC won that meeting 67-53.  
 
The Buccaneers are currently ranked as the No. 2 team in the country by the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Rankings.  They defeated St. Petersburg College 66-63 in their opening game of the season last Saturday.  FSSC will play Utah State University Eastern Friday as part of the Snow Classic.  
 
LAST TIME OUT:  The Snow College men's basketball team claimed three convincing victories last week to open the 2022-23 season. The Badgers defeated Real Salt Lake Academy 128-71, Impact Academy 83-56, and Utah Peaks Prep 117-43.
 
It took a while for the Badgers to find their footing in the opening game of the season against RSLA.  They trailed 13-12 after the first seven minutes of action.  A few minutes later, Franson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Badgers a 19-15 lead, and they would never look back.
 
Franson carried the offense at times in the first half.  He went 6-8 from deep including hitting three straight from distance in a 90-second stretch.  Franson hit all three of his 3-point attempts in the second half to finish with a career-high 29 points to lead all scorers.  He finished the night going 9-11 from beyond the arc, which tripled the number of 3-pointers he made all last season.  Franson just missed out on a double-double finishing with nine rebounds as well.  
 
The Badgers distributed the ball well assisting on 26 of their 40 made field goals.  11 of the Badgers finished with at least one assist led by Gaige Savage who had six helpers. 
 
Snow College torched the nets throughout the game shooting 68 percent from the field including shooting 71 percent in the second half.  The Badgers were 15-27 from deep for a total of 56 percent.  With the excellent shooting, they took a 57-45 lead into the halftime break.
 
The Badgers ran away with it in the second half beginning the period on a 27-4 run over the first 10 minutes of action.  During that time, they were 9-14 from the field and 4-6 from deep giving them a commanding 84-49 lead.
 
Snow College used 50 paint points and 66 points off the bench to cruise to a 128-71 victory.  Six Badgers finished in double figures led by Franson's 29.  Chase Potter chipped in 18 while Colin Christensen finished with 16 points on a perfect 4-4 shooting from the field and 7-8 from the charity stripe.  Dylan Jones had 13 points and three assists while Zach Visentin scored 12 and Jamir Stephens finished with 10 points and three assists.
 
It was more of the same for the Badgers against Impact as they cruised to an 83-56 victory.  The Badgers converted 33 points off turnovers while also receiving 47 points off their bench.  They shot 35 percent from three on 10-29 shooting.
 
Snow College jumped out to a 19-5 lead halfway through the first half.  The Badgers extended that lead to 37-18 going into the halftime break.  They would go on a 19-11 run to begin the second half to put the game out of reach.
 
Jones led all scorers with 17 points. Franson had 15 points following a career high against RSLA.  Clayton Southwick was also in double figures with 10.  Visentin just missed out on a double-double with eight points and 10 boards.
 
The Badgers capped off the weekend with a dominant victory over Utah Peaks Prep, 117-43.  The Badgers had a balanced scoring attack scoring 58 points in the first half and 59 points in the second half.  They began the second half on a 27-8 run capped off by a 3-pointer from Jones.
 
Snow College assisted on 30 of 45 made field goals while shooting 53 percent from the field and 36 percent from three.  The Badgers used 54 bench points and 56 points in the paint to cruise to the 74-point victory.
 
Six Badgers finished in double figures led by Southwick, who had 22 points, nine rebounds, and five steals.  Franson had a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds.  He also had six assists and two steals.  Jones had 17 while Potter and Visentin had 13 points each.  Gaige Savage finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.
 
SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN:  The Badgers will play a total of 30 games this season.  14 games will be played at home with the other 16 being played either on the road or at neutral sites.  Snow College will play a mid-season tournament at the Fiesta Bowl Junior College Shootout in Mesa, Arizona beginning Dec. 27.
 
The Badgers will start the season with five consecutive home games followed by six straight road games including the start to SWAC play which begins Dec. 2 and runs through Feb. 25.  The Badger's first major test will come against preseason No. 2 Florida Southwestern State.  Snow College will play host to the Buccaneers Nov. 12.  
 
Snow College will start 2023 playing four out of five on the road beginning against the College of Southern Idaho Jan. 5.  The Golden Eagles were ranked 17^th in the preseason poll.  The Badgers will also play No. 5 ranked SLCC in that stretch Jan. 19.  
 
The Badgers finish their season playing six out of seven matches at home including two home matches against CSI and a single game against SLCC.  Snow College's final match of the regular season will be on the road against Colorado Northwestern Community College.  The first round of the Region 18 Tournament will begin March 2.
 
UP NEXT:  Snow College will head to Twin Falls, Idaho to participate in the Wright Physical Therapy Shootout where they will play a pair of opponents.  The Badgers will play Central Wyoming College Friday, Nov. 18 at 3:00 p.m. followed by a game with Wenatchee Valley Community College Saturday, Nov. 19.  For additional information, visit snowbadgers.com.