CHARGERS BASKETBALL UPEND ALASKA-FAIRBANKS IN SEASON OPENER

November 19, 2009

CHARGERS BASKETBALL UPEND ALASKA-FAIRBANKS IN SEASON OPENER

Fairbanks, AK (11/19/09) The Dominican College men's basketball team opened up the 2009-2010 season with a 73-67 victory over the University of Alaska-Fairbanks this evening in their opening round game of the Alaska Invitational Tournament.

Fairbanks, AK (11/19/09) The Dominican College men's basketball team opened up the 2009-2010 season with a 73-67 victory over the University of Alaska-Fairbanks this evening in their opening round game of the Alaska Invitational Tournament.

After an opening game bucket by the Nanooks, the Chargers went on a 14-6 run, capped off by back-to-back buckets from senior forward Zach Huston (Johnson City, NY), to take a 13-6 lead and never looked back en route to a 36-33 lead at the intermission. DC shot 48.4% (15-31) and were 4-6 (66.7%) from the foul line for the half.

In the second half, Dominican led by as many as eight points and held a 61-54 lead with 6:21 remaining in the game when UAF went on a 5-0 run to cut the Charger lead to 61-60 with 2:16 to go. Freshman guard Leon Porter (Laurel, MD) went 4-4 from the charity stripe in back-to-back attempts regain a 65-60 advantage.

A Nanook layup once gain cut the lead to one possession and took to fouling Dominican. Freshman guard Jamell Cromartie (White Plains, NY) shot two free throws for a 67-62 lead with 1:08 remaining.

A three point basket cut the Charger lead to one with 0:53 seconds left but Huston answered back with a big three point play (a layup followed by a free throw on the foul) for a 71-67 lead with 0:17 seconds left in the game. Forced to foul again the Nanooks sent senior forward Brendan McManus (Pearl River, NY) to the line where he shot two consecutive free throws for the final 73-67 Charger victory.

Huston led four Chargers in double figures with 16 points and Porter tallied 12 points, eight rebounds and a game leading eight assists in the victory. McManus finished with 10 points, while center Almin Hodzic (Budd Lake, NJ) had the game's only double-double with 10 points and game leading 12 rebounds.

Freshman Cory Quimby (Middletown, NY) came off the bench to net eight points (4-7 from the floor) and grab four rebounds.

DC shot 40.7% (11-27) in the second half and finished the game shooting 44.8% (26-58). The Chargers shot well from the charity stripe, going 18-23 (78.3%).

With the victory Dominican improves to 1-0 on the season.

Dominican is back in action tomorrow at the Alaska Invitational as they take on California University of Pennslyvania at 5:15 pm at the Patty Center.

The aim of Dominican University New York is to promote educational excellence, leadership, and service in an environment characterized by respect for the individual and concern for the community and its needs. Founded by the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, the university is an independent institution of higher learning, Catholic in origin and heritage. In the Dominican tradition, it fosters the active, shared pursuit of truth and embodies an ideal of education rooted in the values of reflective understanding and compassionate involvement. Committed to building its programs upon a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences, the university maintains a student-centered climate and serves a diverse community of students in undergraduate and graduate programs. The university empowers this community of learners to excel, lead and serve with integrity and to engage responsibly in the pursuit of a more just, ethical and sustainable world. Dominican also sponsors 18 varsity intercollegiate sports that compete at the NCAA Division II level. To learn more about Dominican University New York, please visit www.duny.edu.