CSUDH Men's Basketball Weekly Release
November 27, 2001

THIS WEEK IN CSUDH MEN'S BASKETBALL
Dec. 1 CSUDH vs. Pomona-Pitzer The Torodome, 7:30 pm

WHAT'S ON TAP: The Toros will play their second game of the 2001-02 season with a non-conference tilt in the Torodome on Saturday against Pomona-Pitzer.

TOROS DROP SEASON OPENER: The Cal State Dominguez Hills men's basketball team suffered a 72-70 loss to visiting Cal Baptist in their 2001-02 season opener on Saturday in the Torodome. Three Lancer players scored in double figures to pace the visitor's attack. The Toros found themselves down by as many as six points with 6:23 remaining in the game. However, they would go on a 11-3 run capped on a jumper by sophomore forward Lamar Lawrence to take a 31-29 lead with 1:28 left in the half. CSUDH would close out the rest of the period on a 6-2 run with four of those points coming from senior center Kevin Blunt to take a 37-31 lead into the break. Poor shooting in the second half doomed the Toros though as the squad managed only 33% in the second period. CSUDH missed their first six shot attempts of the half and Cal Baptist took advantage. CBU would open the half on a 17-7 run, highlighted by consecutive treys by guard Will Porter taking a 48-44 lead with 12:36 left in the game. CSUDH would come back to tie the game twice over the next six minutes and took the lead 58-57 on two free throws by Lawrence with 6:24 remaining in the game. But Lancer center Omar Lopez scored three consecutive baskets down low to give the visitors the lead for good 62-61 with 2:29 left. Cal Baptist would hang on down the stretch for the final 72-70 margin. The Toros were led in the losing effort by senior guard Jacob Poole's double-double scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Kevin Blunt followed with a double-double of his own with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Justin Goree also registered double figures with 13 points on the night.

FAST START: Seniors Jacob Poole and Kevin Blunt put up solid numbers in the Toros season opening loss. Poole poured in a team-high 19 points and tied for the team lead with 10 rebounds. He also dished out four assists and made four steals. Blunt knocked in 17 points on 5-9 from the field and grabbed 10 boards. The 6-7 center also swatted two shots on the night.

REBOUNDING: The Toros outrebounded their opponents 32.8 - 31.8 in 2000-01. They began the 2001-02 season on the right note in the rebounding department outrebounding Cal Baptist 47-37 including a 17-8 advantage on the offensive boards. Sophomore forward Lamar Lawrence pulled down five rebounds while juniors Justin Goree and Rodney Terrell grabbed four boards each.

SCOUTING POMONA-PITZER: Pomona-Pitzer enters the week with a 2-2 record. The Sagehens will travel to La Sierra University on Wednesday prior to playing the Toros on Saturday night in the Torodome. Pomona-Pitzer is coming off a 61-60 win over Southwestern University (TX). Tyler Velten leads the squad in scoring and rebounding with 11.8 ppg and 6.8 rpg. Andrew Grant follows closely scoring at a 11.5 ppg clip and pulling down 6.5 rpg. Mark Erler is also in double figures offensively averaging an even 10.0 ppg.

TOROS VS. SAGEHENS SERIES NOTES: Saturday night's matchup will be the first meeting between the Sagehens and Toros.

Current CCAA Season Standings

A LOOK AT THE 2001-02 TOROS ROSTER: There are only two returning players from last year's roster. There are also two redshirts from last season that dot the roster this year. In all, there are nine new players joining the four holdovers from last year. Of the nine, one is a sophomore, five are juniors, two are seniors and there is one freshman.

HEAD COACH LARRY HAUSER Coach Hauser begins his fifth season on the sidelines for Cal State Dominguez Hills. Hauser has compiled a 34-70 career record in four seasons on the Carson campus. During his first campaign in the 1997-98 season, Hauser led the Toros to a second place league finish.

TOROS PICKED TO FINISH NINTH BY CCAA COACHES Cal State Dominguez Hills has been picked in a poll of CCAA conference coaches to finish ninth this season. Defending CCAA champ Cal State San Bernardino was picked to repeat this season with 11 of the 12 first place votes.

TOROS ON THE WEB: You can now access results, stories, statistics and other information about Toros soccer on the world wide web.

TOROS SPORTS HOTLINE: Get all the latest scores, Toros headlines and scheduling information 24 hours a day by calling the Toros Sports Hotline at (310) 243-3174.