SAN RAFAEL, Calif.- Dominican men's basketball rang in the New Year with a home victory against the Oaks of Menlo Saturday afternoon winning 72 to 63. The Penguins got their payback on the Oaks as Menlo defeated Dominican right before Christmas break.

Darius Best and the Penguins offense started the game strong jumping out to a 14-5 lead. Best, the North Carolina native, led the way tearing up the Oaks defense with his arsenal of mid and long-range shots. He would end the first half with 20 points while going a perfect 4 for 4 from deep. The Oaks would eventually settle into the game with Preston Le Gassick and Kareem Rowe leading the way. Menlo would get within two-points midway through the first, but the Pengs said that was enough.

Dominican's defense picked up the intensity and their offense got some help from Jaayden Bush and Nathan Ilunga picking up huge buckets in the paint. When the Oaks tried to settle down Best, the Pengs would look to Bush and Ilunga who found a hole in the defense down low. Dominican headed to the lockers for halftime leading 42-24.

In the second half, roles were reversed with the Oaks starting off hot going on a 16 to 6 run cutting into the Penguins big lead. Menlo's defense forced anyone but Best to beat them in the second half and Jorge Ochoa and DM Sanders answered the call for the Pengs. Ochoa, the junior from Los Angeles, was relatively quiet in the first but he was able to flip the switch in the second giving the Pengs crucial buckets to keep the lead. Sanders, the redshirt junior out of San Diego, provided Dominican with an energy spark hitting back-to-back treys when the Pengs lead was down to three.

Dominican sealed the victory with stout defense in the last two minutes of play and hitting their free throws. The Pengs hit five straight free throws to put this one on ice. Best led all scorers finishing with a season high 27 points while Ochoa was second on the team posting a double-double going for 11 points and 12 boards.

The Penguins will be back at home next Saturday Jan. 11^th to square off against Jessup University at 3:30 pm.