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CHICO--- The SF State Gators (2-1) used a 10-0 run midway through the second half to key their 88-79 non-conference win over Bay Area foe Dominican University of California this evening in the Second Round of the Carl's Jr. Mac Martin Invitational on the campus of Chico State. Senior guard
Nefi Perdomo paced the Gators with a game high 25 points as he was one of three players to score in double digits for SF State.
"This was a very good win for us this evening as Dominican is a very good team," said SF State head coach
Paul Trevor. "We are trying to get better every day and we need to clean up some things on defensive if we want to achieve our goals this season."
Perdomo was 9 of 13 from the field connecting on one trey while going 6-for-7 from the charity stripe. Besides Perdomo's game high 25 points,
Will Overton, Jr. chipped in 17 points and
Calvin Otiono added 12 points to go along with his 6 rebounds and four assists.
"Nefi (Perdomo) had a very good tournament this weekend," added Trevor. "I am very proud of our guys as this evening's victory was a very important regional win for us."
Dominican, who falls to 6-2, was led by Matt Hayes with 24 points and Devin Golston's 22 points. Connor Haysbert and Christopher Schwartz-Edmiston each added 10 points for the Penguins, who liked the Gators received votes in this week's NABC Division II National Poll.
The Gators took a 19-9 lead eight minutes into the first half, but Dominican outscored SF State 22-7 in the next seven minutes to take a 32-26 lead.
Two made free throws by
Bennie Rhodes tied the game at 38-38 heading into the locker room as SF State finished the half on a 12-6 run.
SF State started the second half strong as the Gators took a 50-44 lead on two Perdomo free throws in the first five minutes of the new stanza.
Dominican would not go away though as the Penguins cut the Gator lead to 50-49 on a Golston lay-up.
That was a wake-up call for the Gators as they went on a 10-0 run capped by an Overton trey to take a 60-49 lead with 11:43 on the clock.
Two made free throws by Otiono increased the SF State lead to 69-56 with a little less than nine minutes left in regulation.
The Gators held a 71-61 lead, but the Penguins used a 14-1 run to cut their deficit to 75-72 capped by a Golston lay-up with three minutes left in the non-conference affair.
SF State held the Penguins without a field goal in the next two minutes and increased its lead to 78-72 at the 2:33 mark of the game.
Six of the Gators' final 10 points were from the line in the final 78 seconds to secure the 88-79 victory for SF State.
The Gators will have their home opener this Friday, December 6 as they host the Chico State Wildcats in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) game at The Swamp. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30pm PST.
Prior to the game, the SF State Alumni Association is sponsoring "
Campus Comes Alive" in front of the Gymnasium from 6-7:30pm. The first 250 guests will receive free food courtesy of "Taqueria Girasol". Also live music will be provided by The JRO Project.
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