SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Since Dominican University of California joined the Pacific West Conference in the 2009-10 season, the series has been one-sided in favor of the Chaminade University men's basketball team with an 18-8 all-time lead
 
However, in recent years, the series has been much more competitive, particularly at the Penguins' home floor at the Conlon Center.
 
The Silverswords wrapped up their Northern California road trip with a 73-59 loss, marking their third straight defeat on the Penguins' home court.
 
Ross Reeves (Orem, Utah/Snow College/Orem HS) and Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) each had 15 points and seven rebounds for the Silverswords, who dropped to 3-8 on the year and 1-4 in the PacWest. Amaral-Artharee, who re-discovered his shooting touch after a scoreless Sunday at Academy of Art that ended his 104-game scoring streak, also dished out a team-high four assists. Reeves recorded four steals.
 
Kelton Samore (Portland, Ore./Seattle Pacific University/Grant HS) and Scott Ator (Murphy, Texas/College of the Sequoias/Wylie HS) each added 10 for Chaminade with Ator adding eight boards and three blocks.
 
The game was also the long-awaited debut of Kameron Ng (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Univ. of Hawai'i Hilo/Saint Francis HS), who not only sat out last year after transferring from the University of Hawai'i Hilo and Hawai'i Manoa before that, but also the first 10 of this season due to an injury. Ng played 15 minutes, tallying five points, two rebounds and an assist.
 
Marcus McCutcheon scored 16 of his 18 points in the first 20 minutes for Dominican, which improved to 4-5 and 2-0 in the PacWest.
 
The Silverswords opened up a 15-9 early in the first half before the Penguins hit seven of their next eight shots over the next four minutes. Chaminade was just 1-of-10 during the same span, all leading to an 18-2 DUC surge, putting the home team up 27-17.
 
The 'Swords managed to cut the deficit to four three times in the waning minutes but in all, the 'Swords had a rather miserable shooting first half, making just 12 of their 40 shots for 30 percent. Meanwhile, nine of the Penguins' 14 buckets were layups, which helped them shoot 48.3 percent from the field. Despite all that, Chaminade still trailed just 38-30 at the break.
 
To start the second half, Samore scored six of Chaminade's first eight points to draw them to within 40-38. But the 'Swords went cold during the next five minutes and were outscored 13-1, never getting within 10 the rest of the game.
 
The 'Swords shot 32.8 percent from the floor, making six 3-pointers but were just 9-of-17 from the free throw line. Of Dominican's 25 made field goals, 15 were layups or dunks, resulting in a 40.3 shooting percentage while they also made timely shots from long range with seven triples. The Penguins also made 16-of-19 free throws. Both teams had 43 rebounds with Chaminade committing 13 turnovers while Dominican had 12.
 
The team returns home and will jump back into non-conference action next week in the Hoops in Hawai'i Holiday Classic at the Hawai'i Pacific University Shark Tank. The Silverswords will face Lincoln University of Oakland, California, on Sunday followed by the University of Texas Tyler on Monday to close out the pre-Christmas slate.
 
Sunday's tipoff against Lincoln is scheduled for 8 p.m.