SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — Josh Ramirez attacked the rim for a career-high 27 points and led the Dominican University of California men's basketball team to a 74-62 PacWest victory over Notre Dame de Namur on Saturday in the Conlan Center.

Ramirez scored eight points in the first eight minutes of play and had 12 in the half, all of which were scored in the paint. The 6-foot-6 junior was unstoppable against an NDNU (1-12/0-6 PacWEst) lineup that boasted a 6-foot-8 Brian Ying and 6-foot-9 Korey Serna. In fact, all of Ramirez's points outside of a three-pointer and a pair of free throws, came in the paint. Ramirez's steal and dunk three minutes into the second half gave Dominican (8-5/4-2) a 38-30 lead and all of the momentum. Dominican used a 10-point run later in the half, started by a Christopher Schwartz-Edmisten three-pointer and capped by a pair of Cedric Thomas free throws, to take an 18-point lead with just over nine minutes to play. The lead dipped to nine with under three minutes to play but the damage was done.

At 58.5 percent (31-of-53) from the field, Dominican shot over 50 percent for the fourth time this season and is now shooting 47.6 percent on the season. A large part of that has been due to the Penguins' strong ball movement. Dominican had 20 assists on 31 field goals and have assisted 54.9 percent of its field goals (196-of-357). Schwartz-Edmisten came off the bench for 14 points and followed up Thursday's remarkable 11-of-12 shooting night with a 6-of-7 night. The senior guard is now shooting 53.1 percent from the field for the season, including a PacWest-leading 49.3 percent from deep. Fellow senior Matt Hayes added 13 points and led the team with seven rebounds and matched a career-high eight assists. Junior Ryo Tawatari added seven points and six assists. To add to his career night, Ramirez also had six rebounds, three blocks, and a steal.

Guard Jalen Young led the Argonauts with 15 points. NDNU did win the rebounding battle 30-25 and had four different players with five apiece.

The Penguins have won their last 10 games versus the Argonauts. Dominican will now head to Hawaii for a three-game road trip. Dominican begins the trip versus Hawai'i Pacific on Thursday, Jan. 14 and will also face BYU-Hawaii and Chamainde.