SANTA CRUZ - UCSC won its opening round game by defeating a spunky Dominican team. Dominican didn't have the talent of UCSC's squad but with raw determination and good old-fashioned hussle it was able to give Richardson and his Sea Lions all they could handle. UCSC held as much as a 17-point lead early in the second half. However, a determined and sometimes unorthodox Dominican squad was able to fight back and close the gap to 79-78 with 4:50 left in the contest. Dominican had a chance to take the lead with four minutes, but Gaddy, Dominican's high scorer with 26, missed an easy lay-in and UCSC Bruno Baldini took the ball the length of the court and scored to give UCSC a three-point lead. Before Dominican was able to score again Baldini added four points for UCSC two from the field and two from the charity stripe to give the Sea Lions an 85-80 cushion. At that point UCSC was content to pull the ball out and play keep away from Dominican for the last three minutes.

"We've only practiced once this week and it really showed," said Richardson, happy to come away with the victory. UCSC had five players in double figures. Saintignon led the way with 26, Patterson added 18, while Baldini and Dan Mclaughlin chipped in 16 apiece. Tom Buffett added 11.

UCSC (91) Saintignon 9-8 26. McLaughlin 6-4-16, Buffett 5-1-11, Wright 0-0-0, Reynolds 1-2-4, Baldini 6-4-16. Patterson 6-4-18, Macleod 0-0-0, Remstein 0-0-0 Totals - 33-35-91.

DOMINICAN (84) Gaddy 9-8-26. Brebner 5-0-10. Cokon 11-0-22, Johnson 2-0-4, Headley 0-4-4, Ercole 1-3-5. Fltt 0-0-0, Paiva 5-3-13 Totals -33-18-74

Dominican 39 45 - 84
UCSC        47 44-  91