HILO, Hawaii — The Dominican University of California men's basketball team erased an eight-point deficit with three minutes to go and got the job done, 88-82, in overtime over UH Hilo in the two teams' final game of the 2014-15 season.
Dominican led by as many as 10 in the first half, though that lead diminished to 39-35 by halftime. The Vulcans added on in the second half, stretching an 11-0 run over the two halves to take a 41-39 lead. The Penguins did not lead the rest of regulation but got huge production when they needed it most. Down eight after Vandyon Lockett's three-pointer,
Dominique Taplin drew the foul and made his first three throw. Taplin's second free throw didn't fall but the Penguins came up with the rebound and
Matt Hayes hit his sixth three-pointer of the game to make it a two-possession ballgame. The Penguins fouled and Joey Rodriguez (27 points) missed both free throws.
Karl Ohrner outmuscled the Vulcans for the big rebound — Dominican did so most of the night and outrebounded UH Hilo 48-33 for the game. Taplin missed a three but put the ball back after Tre Johnson (11 points) turned the ball over to bring the Penguins within two. Dominican forced another turnover and Taplin drew another foul with 25 seconds to go. This time he made both free throws to force overtime.
Mathew Lipski gave the Penguins the lead with the first bucket of overtime and Dominican never relinquished the lead. Dominican went 5-of-8 from the charity stripe to protect the lead.
Hayes led all players with 27 points. His six three-pointers tied a program single-game record, which he had previously achieved twice before. He set a program record in the DII era with 75 three-pointers made this season and is already the program leader in the DII era with 174.
Christopher Schwartz-Edmisten finished with 18 points on 11-of-12 shooting at the free throw line.
Taplin finished his career with 16 points and nine rebounds, three assists, and a steal. He finishes his career with 1,086 points, having become the first Dominican player to reach the 1,000-point plateau in the DII era. He also holds the records for rebounds (458), free throws made (258), games started (67), and minutes (2,517). His 472 points, 161 field goals made, 113 free throws made, and 202 rebounds in 989 minutes this season alone set program single-season records in the DII era.
Lipski closed out his collegiate career with a double-double, 10 points and 10 rebounds. He led the Penguins with a .602 field goal percentage, which is also a single-season record in the DII era.
