SAN DIEGO — The Dominican University of California men's basketball couldn't get a three-pointer to fall at the end in a 72-69 PacWest loss at Point Loma on Thursday night.
The Penguins (12-10/8-7 PacWest) had five players in double digits and won the rebounding battle 36-28 but ran out of time versus the Sea Lions (12-9/7-7 PacWest). Dominican led 55-48 with under 10 minutes to go thank to a
Christopher Schwartz-Edmisten three-pointer. However, the Sea Lions responded on a 12-0 run that gave them a 60-55 lead with under six minutes to go. The deficit grew to nine on an Aaron Roedl three-pointer but the Penguins chipped away. With 1:04 to go, Dominican pulled to within one, 68-67, on
Ryo Tawatari's second three ball of the night. Dominican fouled and Mike Planeta missed his free throw but got his own rebound. He was fouled again and made both of those, which made it a 70-67 game with under half a minute. The Sea Lions opted to foul, which sent Dominican to the free throw line and made it impossible for the Penguins to tie the game on another three-pointer. That plan worked and the Penguins would only pull within one. Planeta made two more free throws with six seconds left and
Matt Hayes' three-point attempt on the final possession refused to fall.
Dominican trailed by a half dozen early but back-to-back three-pointers from Tawatari and Schwartz-Edmisten gave Dominican a 20-18 lead a quarter of the way through action. The Penguins rallied back to take a five-point lead and led 32-21 at the break.
Ramirez led Dominican with 12 points and matched a career-high with nine rebounds. Schwartz-Edmisten came off the bench for 11 points and is now 13 points away from 1,000 career points.
Reverend Maduakor also had 11 points.
Matt Hayes and
Seth Turner each scored 10 points in the loss.
Point Loma was led by Josh Rodriguez's game-high 24 points. Zach Burnham reedled in nine rebounds for the Sea Lions.
The Penguins did receive some help in the tight PacWest race. Third-place Hawai'i Pacific won 90-85 at Chaminade to keep the Penguins a half game in front of the Silverswords.
Dominican will next head to fourth-place California Baptist on Saturday, Feb. 13. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. in Riverside, California.
