It was a heavyweight slugfest Friday night as the Dominguez Hills men’s basketball team traded blows with SF State all night. Yet it was Dominguez Hills’ one-two combination of Mario Malave and Carlos Rivers that knocked out SF State in overtime 86-84.

SF State could almost taste its first victory of the season as they led 75-73 with 22 seconds left in regulation. Only to have it snatched away as Rivers wove through Gator defenders and hit a runner with 16 seconds left to knot it at 75-75.

With 8 seconds to go Jevon Doss took the ball the length of the court for the Gators, split two defenders in the paint and flipped up a shot with his left hand. The ball bounced off the back of the rim, then the front of the rim and somehow snuck out of the basket. Overtime.

From then on it was the Rivers and Malave show. Rivers, who was 3-for-6 from behind the arc, hit a three to make it 81-77. Not to be out done Malave, who had a team high 23 points, stole the ball at the top of the key and drove it the length of the court for a thunderous slam. This brought their fans up and tore the Gators hearts out.

Coach Bill Treseler was disappointed by the outcome of the game but could appreciate what his team brought to the court.

“It was very difficult to lose but I am happy with the effort,” Treseler said.

Zack Johnson can’t help feel like they let one get away, but he thinks there is something they need to take away from this loss.

“It was definitely a close game, I thought we had it,” Johnson said. “We have to learn how to finish games, we are a young team.”

Although it is early in the season with a new coach and players that have not quite gelled yet, Coach Treseler doesn’t want to hear it.

“We are definitely a new team but we are not going to use that as an excuse all year,” Treseler said. “We need to tighten things up including defensive rebounding and free throw shooting.”

The Gators shot 22-for-35 for 63 percent from the charity stripe. That means if any of those 11 shots went in, SF State would be celebrating their first victory right now. Instead the Gators are looking at a winless record and Johnson thinks that is partially due to poor free throw shooting.

“We didn’t shoot that great from the line,” Johnson said. “Our free throw percentage wasn’t what it should be and it cost us.”

If Johnson, being one of the team leaders, speaks for the spirit of the team, than his tone for the remainder of the season breeds that of eager optimism.

“We have to stay motivated and stay hungry to get that first win,” Johnson said. “Don’t let a tough start get to us. We can’t let these tough loses weigh on our mind too much.”