Despite the 14-0 run late in the second half of last Wednesday night’s game, the Dons men’s basketball team could not come away with the win against Skyline College (14-10, 1-1).

The Trojans went home with a 75-64 victory and angry emotions in the end. Dons forward Sam Phifer and Trojan center Rod Picou exchanged words and shoves shortly after the horn to signal the end of regulation.

The last time these two teams met, the Dons (13-10, 0-2) defeated Skyline College at the Shasta Tournament Nov. 16 by a score of 65-64.

The Dons started off Wednesday night’s game with a backdoor pass by center Daniel Logan to forward Rondell Howard as they caught the Trojans off guard.

Point guard Santos Benitez contributed to the Dons’ only lead as he nailed a three-point basket 5:25 into the game.

The Trojans never looked back as they began their attack on the shorthanded Dons. Dons forward Keith Miyakusu was still out, nursing a quadriceps injury.

Head coach Mike Riley said the team had a hard time picking up for Miyakusu, the team’s leading scorer.

Riley started Howard in the place of Miyakusu as he favored a more defensive-minded approach to the game.

Riley was looking to forward Prince Benitez to provide the team with a comeback. Benitez, known for his clutch three-pointers, went 1-for-8 from beyond the arc.

“The guy that had to pick it up for Keith [was] Prince. Prince didn’t shoot well. That happens,” stated Riley.

Even though Logan put up only six points throughout the game, his presence was felt the instant he stepped onto the court. The 6’7″ center put up back-to-back blocks immediately after Benitez gained the lead.

Trojan forward Eldridge Henderson scored 17 points to lead the Skyline attack, including a 7-for-8 night from the free throw line.

Trojan center Jason Holman put up two three-pointers in the first half while the Dons defense was slow to react. After two free throws in the first half, the Dons adjusted and kept Holman under wraps in the second half, not letting him score a point.

The Dons went into the locker room at the end of the first half down 35-20.

The Trojans put more pressure on the Dons’ defense early in the second half as they jumped out to a 61-40 lead.

The middle of the half came near, and the Dons decided it was time to turn the tables. Phifer, Steven Butler and Dario Burns each chipped in four points in the big 14-0 run.

But the runs was leaving the Dons tired, so Riley decided to slow things down by running back to a normal style of play.

Whatever the reason for the breakdown late in the second half, the Dons seemed pressured throughout the game.

“A lot of the players were intimidated because of the height,” said Burns on his team’s performance. Burns said the Dons were much quicker than the Trojans, but the intimidation hit them early in the game.

With the Trojans pulling away the victory, they now stand in third place in the Coast Conference North Division while the Dons sit in fifth.

Both teams entered the game having lost their conference opener. The Dons kicked off North Division play with a 63-61 loss at Chabot College on Jan. 17. On the same day, the Trojans lost their North Division opener to Ohlone College 69-56.

The Dons will play next at Foothill on tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. De Anza came out on top in the two teams’ last meeting, winning 85-80 on Dec. 14.