Regional Roundup: USF Dons Roll Notre Dame de Namur In Opener
By Phil Watson
The San Francisco Dons opened their season with an easy 95-57 win over Division II Notre Dame de Namur Friday night at War Memorial Gym.
The Dons took an early 24-7 lead and were in complete control by halftime, leading 61-24 and draining 11 3-pointers in the opening 20 minutes.
Kruize Pinkins led San Francisco, which was 15-16 a year ago, with 19 points. Mark Tollefson and Cole Dickerson had 15 points each and Matt Glover scored 12.
Micah Dunhour logged a double-double for the Argonauts with 17 points and 11 rebounds and Steven Plantenburg scored 12 points. Notre Dame de Namur’s only lead of the game was early—the Argonauts scored the first basket to go up 2-0.
The Dons are idle until Wednesday, when they host Cleveland State for an 8 p.m. tipoff. The Vikings open their season today at home against Iona.
Santa Clara Blasts Bethesda University of California 84-39
Freshman Jared Brownridge scored the first five points of each half for the Santa Clara Broncos, who cruised to an easy win over Bethesda University 84-39 at the Leavey Center Friday night.
Bethesda, which plays in the National Christian College Athletic Association, trailed 42-19 by halftime.
Brownridge led the Broncos with 25 points and six assists. Jalen Richard had 15 points and three steals, while Jerry Brown came off the bench to score 13 points and reserve Julian Clarke added 11. Yannick Atanga led Santa Clara with nine rebounds.
The Broncos, who were 26-12 a year ago en route to winning the College Basketball Invitational tournament title, host San Jose State on Tuesday night for an 8 p.m. Pacific tip. It will be the season opener for the Spartans.
UC Davis Drops Opener at Portland 100-83
The UC Davis Aggies hung around for the first 13 minutes before the host Portland Pilots closed the first half on a 26-13 run to take a 13-point lead en route to a 100-83 win Friday night.
The Aggies got as close as 62-53 early in the second half before the Pilots were able to put them away with another run, this one an 18-4 burst over about a six minute span.
Josh Ritchart led UC Davis, which was 14-17 last year, with 18 points, while Corey Hawkins scored 16 to go with a team-high seven assists and eight rebounds, Darius Graham added 12 points and Ryan Sypkens and Brynton Lemar had 11 apiece.
Kevin Bailey scored a game-high 29 points in 33 minutes for Portland.
The Aggies will be at home Monday night to face NAIA Holy Names University for a 7 p.m. Pacific tipoff.
Sacramento State Locks Down UC Santa Cruz 73-43
Five Sacramento State Hornets scored in double figures and they held visiting UC Santa Cruz to just 15 first-half points en route to a 73-43 opening night win at the Nest Friday night.
Mikh McKinney scored a game-high 14 points for Sacramento State, which held the Banana Slugs to just 29.4 percent from the floor (15-for-51). Dylan Garrity had 11 points and five assists for the Hornets, while reserves Jordan Salley and Nick Hornsby had 11 and 10, respectively. Eric Stuteville came off the bench to pace Sacramento State with six rebounds.
The Hornets go on the road for the first time Wednesday when they visit CSU Bakersfield. The Roadrunners lost their opener Friday night at Washington State 62-56.