SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – It had been approximately 14 days since the Chaminade University men's basketball team last took to the floor. Pacific West Conference health and safety protocols wiped out one home game then delayed their first two contests of their Northern California road trip this week.
On Wednesday, the Silverswords officially opened their first PacWest mainland trip since February 2020 but was stopped with a 56-53 defeat to Dominican University of California at the Conlan Center.
Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) had a team-high 13 points with three 3-pointers while
Joseph Smoyer (Portland, Ore./Columbia University/Franklin HS) added 11 and eight from
Zach McIntire (Delaware, Ohio/Mercyhurst University/Delaware Hayes HS).
It was the first conference loss of the year for the 'Swords (3-5 overall, 1-1 PacWest) while also snapping a six-game winning streak against Dominican.
The Penguins (4-6, 1-2 PacWest) were paced by Zamaria Odom's 14 points.
Kevin Kremer (Chico, Calif./University of Utah/Pleasant Valley HS) pulled down 13 rebounds for Chaminade, his third double-digit rebound game this year and his second straight double-digit board contest. He and
Raazhel Watkins (Concord, Calif./Sacramento State/College Park HS) had seven points each.
Smoyer and McIntire accounted for 10 of Chaminade's points in its 12-2 run in the game's first four minutes with
Paris Taylor (Bolivar, Tenn./University of Wisconsin Green Bay/Central HS) getting the other two.
The Penguins chipped away at the deficit while the 'Swords would match each score, yet were never able to get a significant run to pull away. Chaminade's biggest lead in the final 10 minutes of the first half was six but still held a 28-27 halftime edge.
Amaral-Artharee had a layup and triple as a part of an 11-2 run to start the second half, giving Chaminade a 39-29 lead at the first media timeout. However, Dominican responded with 10 straight points to tie it at 39. After two more ties, Odom hit a corner 3-pointer to give the Penguins their first lead of the game at 46-43 with 5:57 left, which they held for good.
After Smoyer's two free throws with 2:12 remaining which cut the deficit to 54-51, the 'Swords couldn't score on their next four possessions. Chase Anderson hit two free throws with 19 seconds left to secure Dominican's first win over Chaminade since Feb. 4, 2016.
The 'Swords made 32.8 percent of their shots (21-of-64), were 7-of-26 from long range and made four of their eight free throws. They also grabbed 46 rebounds but committed 17 turnovers.
Dominican was 20-of-54 from the floor (37 percent) and sank nine of their 16 triples while pulling down 39 boards.
The Silverswords will face Holy Names on Thursday with a 1 p.m. Pacific time (11 a.m. Hawaiian) tipoff.
Fans are reminded that HNU athletic administration is allowing only 50 from visiting teams inside Tobin Gymnasium. The total includes student-athletes, coaches and staff from both teams; opposing fans can occupy the rest of the remaining spaces.
