SAN RAFAEL, Calif.- Dominican men's basketball (7-4, 2-3) rang in 2026 with a conference match-up at home against the Sea Lions of Point Loma. It was three weeks ago that the Penguins knocked off the then ranked No. 10 Sea Lions at their place (92-73), and the two teams met again on New Year's Day inside the Igloo.

Point Loma would start this game fast as they jumped out to an 11-0 lead led by their leading scorer Tyce Paulsen. Dominican would halt the Sea Lions momentum in the first half when Michael Wilson found some open space in the defense and knocked down a long ball off a nice assist from teammate Nick Medeiros. Midway through the first half the Pengs found themselves down by double-digits, but they didn't back down.

Senior Jorge Ochoa constantly drove the ball with authority against the Point Loma defense forcing them to send him to the line. Ochoa, the Los Angeles native, knocked down a game high seven free throws and four in the first half keeping the Pengs within striking distance late in the first. He would finish the game tied for a team high 11 points while grabbing six boards.

Sargent Jeffery helped Ochoa in the offensive department as he also posted 11 points while going a perfect five for five from the charity stripe. Jeffery would start to heat up after halftime as Dominican found some success scoring down low. Wilson and junior Austin Johnson would round out the top scorers for the Pengs in this one as they went for nine points apiece while knocking down a couple of treys.

The Penguins will be back in action this Saturday as they play host to CUI at 3:30 p.m.