OAKLAND, Calif. — The Dominican University of California men's basketball team moved to 2-0 in PacWest play with an 81-62 victory at Holy Names on Saturday.

Despite the final margin, the Penguins' victory didn't always look like such a sure thing. Dominican started fast and led 16-6 six minutes into action. However, the tables turned when the Hawks went on a 23-6 run to take a 29-22 lead. Dominican cut the lead back to a point on a pair of Christopher Schwartz-Edmisten free throws but Juan De La Cruz's layup sent Dominican into the locker room trailing 33-30.

The Penguins opened the half with a turnover that led to a fast break layup by Jamarae Moss. However, Dominican answered with a Matt Hayes three-pointer to pull within two. Josh Armstrong's fast break layup on the ensuing possession tied the game at 37-37 and a Josh Ramirez free throw gave the Penguins their first lead in nine minutes. A Moss layup returned the lead to HNU with 16:42 to go but that would be the Hawks' final lead of the game. Ramirez's tip-in gave the Penguins the lead for good with just over 16 minutes to go. Leading by one, Matt Lipski's layup kicked off a 17-point Penguins run that held the Hawks scorless for nearly five minutes and blew the game open, 68-50.

Five Penguins scored in double digits, led by Hayes' 18 points on four three-pointers. Christopher Schwartz-Edmisten added 15 points and Josh Armstrong added 13 points. Mathew Lipski and Ramirez each scored 11 points as the Penguins outscored HNU 42-24 in the paint. Armstrong, Lipski, Ramirez, and Dominique Taplin each pulled down five rebounds as the Penguins dominated the glass 31-19. Nick Simi led all players with 19 points for the Hawks.

Dominican is off until Tuesday, Dec. 16. The Penguins host Azusa Pacific in a 7:30 p.m. PacWest contest. Live stats and video will be available at dominicanatlhletics.com/live with audio provided by radio.dominican.edu.