SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — No. 19 Hawai'i Pacific University fought off a second half rally by Dominican (Calif.) before running out to an 82-62 PacWest Conference win at DUC's Conlan Center.
 
The 19th ranked Sharks (16-1, 8-1) moved back to the top of the PacWest with their fourth straight win as Dixie State lost at Point Loma 68-64. Dominican (4-12, 3-7) lost its fourth straight game.
 
"We answered the bell in a tough game on the road," said HPU head coach Darrin Vorderbruegge. "I'm proud of the way we held together when Domincian made its run, then executed to gain back our advantage."
 
Guard Connor Looney, a 6-2 senior from Palmer, Alaska/Palmer, and swingman Chauncey Orr a 6-4 graduate student from Bowling Green, Ohio/Bowling Green, led the way for the Sharks with 15 points each as HPU placed four players in double figures in balanced scoring. Guard Jordan Martin, a 5-11 senior from Goodyear, Ariz./Millennium, collected 13 points and joined Looney in leading the team with six rebounds each. Forward Elliott DeFreitas, a 6-10 senior from Essex, England/County Upper, added 11 points with five boards.
 
Jeremiah Gray led the Penguins with 18 points and was one of four DUC players with five rebounds. Josh Armstrong scored 12 points, while Josh Ramirez chalked up 10 points.
 
The Sharks shot 50 percent (29-of-58) from the field, including 33 percent (9-of-27) from the 3-point arc. HPU also connected on 15-of-19 shots (79 percent) from the free throw line. DUC hit 43 percent (26-of-61) from the floor and 26 percent (5-of-19) from the arc. The Penguins hit 5-of-8 (63 percent) from the foul line.
 
The Sharks edged the Penguins 36-32 on the boards, while turning the ball over 14 times and forcing 18 from DUC.
 
The Penguins jumped out to an early lead, only to trade the advantage with HPU for four times in the first 10 minutes of the contest. Down 18-16 with 10 minutes to play in the half, HPU's DeFreitas hit a layup followed by a turnover that led to a layup by sophomore forward Jonothan Janssen from Noosa Heads, Australia/Mountain Creek, to start a 7-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from sophomore forward Spencer Vering of San Diego, Calif./Mater Dei Catholic and the Sharks wouldn't trail again. HPU carried a 41-32 lead to the half.
 
HPU built a 13-point lead early in the second half when the Penguins made their move. DUC got a 10-2 run to pull the game within five points at 50-45 when Cedric Thomas got a fast break transition layup after a blocked shot with 13 minutes to play.
 
HPU used its defense to pickup the offense in answering the Penguins, as a Martin steal assisted a transition fastbreak layup by senior forward Colfax Nordquist of Elk Grove, Calif./Pleasant Grove to start a 12-0 run and HPU never led by less than double-digits the rest of the way. The Sharks led by as many as 23 before settling for the 20-point 82-62 road win.
 
The victory gives HPU the season sweep of the Penguins after beating DUC 77-66 in Honolulu on Dec. 15.
 
The Sharks conclude their Northern California road trip on Monday night in Belmont, Calif., when they visit Notre Dame de Namur for a 5:30 Hawai'i Time (7:30 Pacific) game at Gleason Gym.