The Chico State men's basketball team entered the game with the glittering offensive numbers and national ranking. But Head Coach Greg Clink kept insisting his youthful squad still had a lot to learn. Dominican helped teach that lesson, using beautiful ball movement and menacing defense to deal the Wildcats a 67-61 defeat on the opening night of the 55^th annual Carl's Jr. Mac Martin Invitational Friday at Acker Gym.
 
The Penguins (3-3) attacked from all angles to build an early lead and buried nine of 10 free throws down the stretch to hold off the hard-charging Wildcats, who fell to 3-1.
 
Chico State entered the game shooting a nation's best 62.6 percent and scoring 91.7 points per game, but made just 22-of-52 shots and managed only six assists.
 

Jordan Semple finished with 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots to pace the Wildcats, while Robert Duncan scored 16. But the rest of the squad scored on only nine-of-32 attempts.
 
The Wildcats still almost stole a win, using a 10-0 run to tie the game at 47 apiece with 7:54 to play.
 
Dominican, picked in the preseason to finish fourth in the Pacific West Conference, held the line by scoring on four of its next five possessions.
 
The Wildcats whittled the lead back to one, 58-57, when Semple blocked a shot that was rebounded by Mike Rosaroso, who went the length of the court for a reverse layup with 1:18 to play. But Matt Hayes hit a runner in the lane with 42 ticks remaining and then Corey Silverstrom missed a potential tying 3-pointer.
 
Dominique Taplin made a pair of free throws answered by a quick Duncan drive and deposit, and after Semple stole the ball with 14 seconds remaining had another chance to tie it, but Rosaroso dribbled the ball off his foot and out of bounds.
 
Dominican converted a long pass on the ensuing inbounds play and Jordan Barton was whistled for an intentional foul. Josh Ramirez made them both to salt the game away. Hayes led a balanced Penguins attack with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Ramirez finished with 14 points and three steals, and Taplin chipped in 11 points and eight boards as Dominican outrebounded the Wildcats 32-29.
 
The Wildcats are back in action Saturday night against Azusa Pacific at 7:30. San Francisco State, which lost to Azusa Pacific 79-56 in Friday night's first game, will face Dominican at 5:30.