Compton, Calif. - Freshman Dominique Alexander scored a game-high 27 in his debut, but the men's basketball team fell to Chaffey, 95-92, in a season opening heartbreaker on Thursday evening.

Alexander shot 16-of-19 from the line with six rebounds and three assists. Freshman Jordan Griffin backed Alexander up with 20 points of his own. Sophomore James Mitchell contributed 13, while sophomore Aaron Gibson added the final double-figure outing for the Tartars with 10.

Going into halftime with a four-point edge, 43-39, the Tartars battled back from being down by as many as 13 in the second half at the 8:45 mark. But the efforts fell just short as Compton was unable to convert on a last-second three by Griffin.

Gibson led the Tartars on the boards with seven, while Mitchell and Griffin paced the assist game with four. 

Compton (0-1) remains home, hosting Grossmont on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m.