Nov. 12, 2005
Box Score
DAVIS, Calif. - Rommel Marentez scored 25 points to lead UC Davis past Dominican University, 76-71, Saturday afternoon in a men's basketball exhibition at The Pavilion in Davis, Calif. The game was the last of two exhibitions for the Aggies, who now set their sights on next weekend's season opener.
Marentez went 10-for-13 from the field and added four assists and five steals, both game highs. The junior was the only Aggie in double figures. Michael Boone, Thomas Juillerat and C.J. Portz each added nine points. Phil Rasmussen finished with eight. Each team led by 11 or more points while four lead changes highlighted a final 2:26 of action.
Dominican opened the game strong, holding the Aggies to just one field goal in the first seven minutes and leading 14-3 at the 13:25 mark. UC Davis stormed back with a 9-0 run, capped off by a pair of lay-ups by Boone to cut the Dominican lead to 14-12 with 10:41 left in the half.
The Penguins followed with a 12-6 run and led 26-18 before UC Davis closed the half on a 20-5 run and led 38-31 at the break.
The Aggies opened up as much as a 12-point lead in the second half, the last of which came with 13:20 to play. The Penguins fought back with a 10-0 run over the next three minutes, cutting the Aggie lead to 55-53.
With UC Davis leading 60-58 with six minutes to play, Marentez scored the next five points to put the Aggies ahead 65-58 at the 4:33 mark. Two minutes later, the Penguins regained the lead, 67-66, on a three-pointer by Stevie Johnson.
Johnson, who led all scorers with 26 points, made a lay-up with 58 second left to put Dominican up 71-70. Marentez followed seven seconds later with a bucket to put the Aggies up for good, 72-71. A pair of free throws by Marentez with 13.4 seconds left made it 74-71.
Dominican's final attempt to tie the game failed when Marentez's fifth steal of the afternoon led to a Jesse Lopez Low lay-up with less than a second remaining.
"I've come to expect that from Rommel," said UC Davis head coach Gary Stewart. "I know he's going to make plays for us He's a great competitor and a talented guy."
Each team shot 53 percent from the field. The Aggies outrebounded the Penguins 30-26 with Rasmussen, Boone and Marentez each grabbing four boards. UC Davis forced Dominican into 21 turnovers while committing 18.
UC Davis next faces Northern Arizona Nov. 19 in Flagstaff, Ariz., in its opener. The game can be heard live on KHTK 1140-AM and www.ucdavisaggies.com.
