SAN RAFAEL, Calf. — In his return to basketball court, Dominican University of California senior Adam Chavis led the Penguins to a 76-50 exhibition over NAIA Division II Pacific Union College on Thursday night at the Conlan Center.
The 2007–08 California Pacific Conference (NAIA Division II) Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year redshirted last season, Dominican's first season in the NCAA Division II Pacific West Conference, after suffering through an injury-plagued 2008–09 campaign. He marked his return with a 14-point performance in 19 minutes. He scored all 14 points in the first half and finished the night 6-of-10 from the floor.
It took several minutes to really shake off the rust after sophomore Ian Collins opened the scoring on a fast break layup. Aren Rennacker nailed a three-pointer with 13:50 to go in the first half to pull PUC even at 8-8, which awoke Dominican from its slumber. The Penguins scored the game's next 13 points, capped by freshman Myles Carrillo's fast break layup, and never looked back. By halftime, Bret Tovani's squad had established a 37-22 lead.
Collins got Dominican's new student cheering section, "The Ice Box," on its feet right away in the second half as he opened the half with a three-pointer followed by a slam dunk for the Penguins that pushed the lead to 20. The Penguins were far from perfect though, falling cold — and scoreless — for nearly five and a half minutes in the second half. Luckily the defense held strong, and allowed the Pioneers to only get within 18 points. A pair of late free throws from senior Leon Hart and a three-pointer by junior Mark Lewis concluded the game, with Dominican earning the 76-50 exhibition victory.
The Penguins shot 48 percent from the field while allowing PUC to shoot just 31 percent. The Penguins grabbed 47 rebounds, led by seven apiece from sophomore Killian Larson and freshman Keenan Hale, to PUC's 33. Hart led all players with 17 points in just 15 minutes. Lewis added 11 points and a game-high five assists. Hale added nine points and fellow freshman big man Connor Haysbert added seven points. Junior point guard Xavier Muldrow's lone bucket of the night ensured that all Dominican starters scored.
Rennacker led the Pioneers with a dozen points and seven rebounds. Daniel Monnier added 11 points.
The Penguins head CCAA programs Sonoma State and Chico State for those school's tournaments, which will take the Penguins through November. They play another CCAA school, Cal State LA, on December 12 and return to the Conlan Center on December 17 and December 18 for the Dominican Classic, where the Penguins will host St. Martin's University and Seattle Pacific University.
www.dominicanathletics.com
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