Box Score AZUSA, Calif. — The Dominican University of California men's basketball team wasn't able to replicate the same magic on the road versus Azusa Pacific University in a 71-64 Pacific West Conference decision on Tuesday night.

The last time the two squads met in early December, the Penguins had the upper hand with a 91-89 overtime victory at home. On Tuesday, Dominican (11-5/5-3 PacWest) kept the Cougars' leading scorer, Troy Leaf, under his season average of 19.6 points per game with a game-high 17 points but failed to build on a 36-35 halftime lead.

After a Dominique Taplin three-pointer beat the shot clock on the Penguins' opening possession, Azusa Pacific (7-5/3-3 PacWest) countered with the next 11 points. That forced Dominican to play from behind most of the first half. The Penguins finally got a head of steam and used a 10-0 run to take momentum — and the lead, 36-33 — late in the half. Dominican created 11 points off of turnovers and shot well from deep, going 6-of-13 from three-point land.

The second half was another story. The Penguins went just 1-of-9 from deep and struggled from the field, going just 11-of-31 (35.5 percent) to finish the game shooting 37.3 percent, the lowest output of the season.

Dominican's lead disappeared after both teams went scoreless the first two minutes of the second half. Then, Azusa Pacific took a four-point lead on a jumper from Jared Zoller followed by a three-pointer from Kevin Stafford. Another Stafford three-pointer capped a 17-6 run and put the Cougars up 59-46. The deficit grew to 14, though the Penguins whittled the margin to five under a minute to go.

Myles Carrillo led the Penguins with 16 points. Devin Golston and Connor Haysbert added 14 points apiece, and Dominique Taplin chipped in 11 points. Carrillo and Taplin each pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.

Dominican returns home to the Conlan Center for the first time in 2014 on Saturday, Jan. 18, looking to snap its three-game skid. Tipoff of the PacWest contest versus Hawai'i Pacific University (10-3/5-2 PacWest) is slated for 7:30 p.m. following the women's game. Live coverage will be available at dominicanathletics.com/live.