RIVERSIDE, Calif. — An 89-88 loss was a hard result to swallow for the Dominican University of California men's basketball team on Saturday. The Penguins, who are fighting for a berth in the PacWest Championships come March, dropped a tough road result on a pair of last-second free throws that put California Baptist ahead for good.

Dominican (12-11/8-8 PacWest) received 18 points apiece from Christopher Schwartz-Edmisten and Reverend Maduakor. It was a career-high for Maduakor, who also pulled down a team-high six rebounds. Schwartz-Edmisten entered the game in need of 13 points to join teammate Matt Hayes in the 1,000 point club. It was the two shots that he didn't make, however, that played a key role in the outcome. Seth Turner drove for a lefty layup with 25.2 seconds on the clock that gave Dominican an 86-85 lead. The Penguins battled foul trouble all night and sent Kalido Diouf to the line with 13 seconds. Diouf sank both free throws to give CBU the lead back but he fouled Turner, who made both of his free throws with 7.6 seconds to go. The Lancers turned the ball over on the inbounds and fouled Schwartz-Edmisten without any time coming off the clock. the senior entered the game with a season average of 82.7 percent but missed both free throws and CBU's Gelaun Wheelwright was fouled with 0.1 seconds left. Wheelwright made both free throws to win the game.

Josh Ramirez finished with 15 points. He was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line in the first half but was forced to the bench with his third foul less than minute into the second half. He picked up his fourth with 10:59 to go. Hayes, Turner, and Russell Davis also found themselves with four fouls. The Lancers' Michael Smith departed with a team-high 20 points after he fouled out with 7:12 remaining. The Penguins led 47-43 at halftime thanks to a three-pointer from Tawatari and a bucket from Schwartz-Edmisten.

Dominican shot 69.6 percent (16-of-23) in the first half but took tougher shots in the second half and went just 10-of-28 (35.7 percent) over the final 20 minutes. CBU's largest lead of the night was seven points midway through the second half while Dominican's was eight points early in the second half.

Despite the loss, the Penguins received some help by the way of some other results around the PacWest. UH Hilo held on late at home to beat Chaminade 101-99 to keep the Silverswords from gaining ground. Second-place Azusa Pacific also knocked off Point Loma 77-72 and Dixie State breezed by Fresno Pacific 93-65.

Dominican will look to salvage its three-game road trip to Southern California on Monday, Feb. 15 at second-place Azusa Pacific. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.