SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – The Chaminade University men's basketball team began their first Mainland trip of the season on the right foot by downing Dominican University of California, 85-63, Saturday at the Conlan Center.
Austin Pope (Burbank, Calif./North Idaho College) had 16 points while
Grant Dressler (Las Vegas/Sacramento State) came off the bench to also add 16, a season-high, to help the Silverswords improve to 10-4 overall and 5-2 in the Pacific West Conference.
Chaminade's fifth straight victory also gave
Eric Bovaird his 99
th career win as head coach.
Jeremiah Gray led the Penguins (3-12 overall, 2-6 PacWest) with a game-high 19 points.
Justin Bridges (Atlanta/Georgia Highlands) contributed with 14 points and six rebounds while
Erik Scheive (Marysville, Calif./Yuba College) added 12 points.
The 'Swords' bench proved to be a major factor, outscoring the Penguins' reserves, 32-11. In addition to Dressler's 16,
Braden Koelliker (Kaysville, Utah/Colorado State) had 11 points with
Nate Pollard (Bountiful, Utah/Rice University) adding five with a season-high six rebounds.
Chaminade played stellar defense early, limiting Dominican to just two field goals in the first 12 minutes to help build a 27-7 lead. The hosts began chipping away, cutting the deficit to 29-19 with three minutes left in the first half. But Pope rejected Reverend Maduakor's layup and got a traditional three-point play on the other end to extend the lead to 13. The senior buried a 3-pointer two possessions later then on the final possession of the half, Bridges grabbed a loose ball at the right wing and sank a triple as time expired to give Chaminade a 40-23 halftime lead.
The momentum seemed to carry over into the second half as the 'Swords eventually pushed the lead into the 20s while DUC got no closer than 15 the rest of the game.
Chaminade shot 47.1 percent from the field, hauled in 44 rebounds, dished out 17 assists with just six turnovers as it won at the Conlan Center for the first time since January 2013, breaking a three-game losing streak at DUC. The 'Swords also blocked six shots with
Brett Reed (Houston/Cabrillo College) accounting for two. They also made nine triples with Bridges making three from long distance.
Dominican was held to 37.5 percent from the floor with 40 boards and just eight assists.
The Silverswords will be at Academy of Art on Monday where Bovaird will look to become only the third coach in program history with 100 career wins.
