SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — The Dominican University of California men's basketball team fell 96-75 to No. 17 Chico State in non-conference action on Thursday night at the Conlan Center.
The Wildcats (2-0) led the entire game, though the Penguins mounted a comeback late in the first half. Down 13, the Penguins (1-2) trimmed the lead all the way down to two, 36-34, thanks to three-pointers on three consecutive trips down the floor from
Seth Turner,
Christopher Schwartz-Edmisten, and
Matt Hayes. Robert Duncan responded with a three ball of his own for the Wildcats and the deficit was quickly back to seven, 45-38, by halftime. The Penguins got no closer than eight in the second half.
Dominican shot the ball decently (42.9 percent, 27-of-63) but allowed the Wildcats to shoot 56.4 percent (31-of-55), which included eight three pointers. The Wildcats also used their size and athleticism to outrebound the Penguins 42-30, which helped Chico State draw 30 fouls at both ends of the floor.
Josh Ramirez fouled out for the Penguins and three others had four fouls each. That resulted in a whopping 37 free throws for the Wildcats, who sank 26. The Penguins went to the free throw line just 19 times and made half as many as Chico State with 13.
Still, four Penguins ended up in double digit scoring by the end of the night. Turner had his highest scoring output as a Penguin with a team-high 16 points. Ramirez and Schwartz-Edmisten scored 13 points apiece and Hayes added a dozen. Hayes pulled down a team-high seven rebounds and
Ryo Tawatari dished out three assists.
Duncan led all players with a career-high 27 points and went 9-of-11 from the free throw line with six rebound and five assists. Isaiah Ellis scored a career-high 20 points off the bench and pulled down seven rebounds. Corey Silverstrom came off the bench for another 17 points and starter Jalen McFerren added 10 points. Tanner Giddings led all players with eight rebounds.
The Penguins will travel to Stanislaus State on Saturday, Nov. 21 for another non-conference contest. Tipoff versus the Warriors is scheduled for 7 p.m.
