PORT ANGELES — The Peninsula College men’s basketball team held off Pierce 71-66 to close out 2014 with four straight wins.
The Pirates wrapped up their nonconference schedule with a 7-5 record.
They open North Division play Saturday, Jan. 10, at home against Edmonds (10-3) on “Seahawks Day.”
Tipoff for that women’s and men’s doubleheader has been moved to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., and halftime contests are planned for fans wearing Seahawks gear.
In Tuesday’s final nonconference game, the Pirates fell behind early, but moved into the lead on four straight 3-point bombs, two from Domach Domach and two from Ryley Callaghan.
The teams traded baskets until Peninsula turned a 23-22 lead into a 34-22 lead with some defensive pressure, robust rebounding and two crowd-pleasing dunks from Jal Deng that led to a 39-27 lead at halftime.
The Raiders, however, would not go away, and closed to within three points in the final minute before the Pirates put the game away at the free-throw line in the closing seconds to win by five.
Deng finished with 18 points to lead four Pirates in double figures.
Callaghan, the 10th leading scorer in the Northwest Athletic Conference with a 19.4 average, added 17 points and four assists, Dixon, who is just ahead of Callaghan on the NWAC list of scoring leaders with a 19.5 average, was held to 12 points, and Domach also hit for 12.
The Pirates outrebounded their opponent for the fourth straight game, 40-33, led by nine from Malik Mayeux and eight from Jeremiah Hobbs.
Peninsula hit on 28 of 66 from the floor for 42 percent, 12 of 32 from three-point range for 38 percent and 3 of 5 from the line for 60 percent.
Pierce shot 27 for 57 from the floor, 4 for 15 from beyond the arc for 27 percent and 8 for 11 from the line for 73 percent.
The Raiders were led by David Kates’ 23 points and 11 each from Tre Benton and Keasean Kelly.
Peninsula 71, Pierce 66
Pierce 27 39— 66
Peninsula 39 32— 71
Individual scoring
Pierce (66)
Corr 5, Benton 11, Kates 23, Kelly 11, Wilson-Jones 6, Willey 4, Burian 6, Abo.
Peninsula (71)
Callaghan 17, Domach 12, Dixon 12, Hobbs 4, Reis 6, Deng 18, Cook 2, Ironside.
