OAKLAND, Calif. Head-Royce controlled the glass and held off a late push to beat San Domenico 55-45 at home on Tuesday, improving to 13-1 and extending its winning streak to four games. The Jayhawks outrebounded the visitors 34-22, and their 12 offensive rebounds led to 11 second-chance points.
The lead changed hands four times in the opening stretch. San Domenico hit a pair of early 3-pointers and built its largest lead at 13-8. Johnny and Andre answered with back-to-back baskets, the second off a turnover, to cut the gap to 13-12. After San Domenico scored again, Head-Royce went on a 9-0 run. Christian and Marcus each scored on second-chance baskets, and Marcus's gave the Jayhawks a 16-15 lead they never gave up. Christian followed with a 3-pointer, and Osagie finished a pass from Micah to make it 21-15.
Head-Royce kept pushing. Uche Okereke scored twice, the second off a turnover, and in between Andre hit a second-chance 3-pointer, pushing the lead to 28-18. San Domenico closed the half with back-to-back 3-pointers, a 6-0 run that cut the margin to 28-24 at the break.
San Domenico stayed close early in the second half and pulled within 32-31. Head-Royce answered with a 7-0 run: Johnny hit a 3-pointer off a pass from Marcel, Marcel scored inside and Andre scored on a second-chance basket for a 39-31 lead. The Jayhawks then pulled away. Marcel made two free throws, Micah hit a 3-pointer off a turnover and Johnny added another 3-pointer before Osagie's basket made it 51-37, the largest lead of the night at 14. San Domenico scored the next eight points to get within 51-45, but Micah ended the run and closed the scoring by making four straight free throws.
Johnny led Head-Royce with 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including 2 of 5 from 3-point range, and added six rebounds and four assists. Micah finished with 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds, three of them offensive, and went 4 of 4 at the line. Christian scored eight points on two 3-pointers. Marcel had seven points, six rebounds, four assists and three blocks, and Andre added seven points, three steals and two blocks. Okereke had four points and three offensive rebounds, and Osagie made both of his shots for four points.
Head-Royce shot 21 of 51 (41 percent) from the field, while San Domenico shot 17 of 45 (38 percent) and went 5 of 21 from 3-point range. The Jayhawks had just seven turnovers and forced 11, which gave them a 9-2 edge in points off turnovers. Head-Royce also blocked six shots and made 7 of 9 free throws, and Jaden chipped in two steals.
With the win, Head-Royce is 13-1 and has won four straight games.