OAKLAND, Calif. – With an efficient offense and a stifling defense, the Dominican University of California men's basketball team earned an 80-66 win on Wednesday at Holy Names.
 
Senior guard Josh Ramirez lifted the Penguins' offense, totaling a team-high 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting. He also grabbed nine rebounds, another team best. As a team, Dominican went 28-for-51 from the field for a mark of 54.9 percent.
 
Joining Ramirez in double figures were Reverend Maduakor (15 points), Jeremiah Gray (13 points) and Henry Uwadiae (11 points).  Uwadiae added three blocks while Josh Armstrong helped create opportunities for his teammates as he contributed a team-high seven assists.
 
On the defensive end, the Penguins limited Holy Names to a 28.1-percent shooting effort. Dominican also outrebounded its opponents 40-35.
 
Although the teams were held scoreless through the first two minutes of the contest, Maduakor got the Penguins on the board at the 17:51 mark with a layup. The Hawks took an early 6-4 lead but then the Dominican offense came alive, rattling off a 14-0 run that was capped off with a pair of dunks from Uwadiae.
 
The Hawks managed to cut the margin back to five points in the final minute of the half but Gray knocked down a three-pointer at the eight-second mark to give the Penguins a 37-29 lead heading into the break.
 
On Dominican's first offensive possession of the second half, an Armstrong jumper pushed the visitor lead back to double digits. The momentum elevated even further at the 17:49 mark, when Maduakor threw down a thunderous dunk and added a free throw after being fouled.
 
The Penguins widened their lead to as many as 22 points late in the second half. A Quentin Mendoza three-pointer started the run and then Dominican got a pair of baskets off fast-break opportunities.
 
In total, Dominican racked up seven dunks in the convincing road win.
 
Up next for Dominican is Friday's 7:30 p.m. home matchup against Notre Dame De Namur. It will be Willie Long Night at the Conlan Center.