CSUDH Men's Basketball Weekly Release
December 12, 2001

THIS WEEK IN CSUDH MEN'S BASKETBALL
Dec. 14 CSUDH @ CS San Bernardino Coussoulis Arena, 8 pm
Dec. 15 CSUDH @ Cal Poly Pomona Kellogg Gymnasium, 8 pm

WHAT'S ON TAP: The Toros continue their CCAA league schedule traveling to CS San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona on Friday and Saturday.

TOROS DROP CCAA OPENER TO CHICO: Chico State shot 60% in the second half to break open a close game to down Cal State Dominguez Hills 85-67 in the Toros league opener at Chico State last Friday. CSUDH (1-2, 0-1 CCAA) went into the locker room down by four 37-33. Senior Kevin Blunt's (Pacific HS) consecutive layup's to open the second period would tie the game. However, the Wildcats (3-2, 1-0 CCAA) would go on a 20-5 run over the next five minutes to take control of the game leading by as many as 21 points. The Toros would trim the lead to 10 points twice, but Chico would answer both times with solid runs to hang on. The Toros' 25 turnovers in the game didn't help which led to 29 Wildcat points. As a team, CSUDH shot .455 from the floor and only .250 from beyond the 3-point arc (3-12). Senior center Kevin Blunt posted another solid game with a game-high 23 points on 8-13 from the field. Blunt also grabbed a team-high nine boards. Junior guard Brandon Erquhart (Southfield Lathrup HS) came off the bench to score 15 points on 7-11 shooting while Justin Goree (Fairfield HS) added 10 points of his own. Five Chico players knocked in double figures paced by MacKenzie Dent's 15 points and 10 rebounds.

TOROS GET NIPPED BY AGGIES IN FINAL SECONDS: UC Davis hit two free throws with :10 remaining to seal the win holding off the Toros 67-63, in a California Collegiate Athletic Association men's game in front of 1,780 Saturday evening at Recreation Hall. Cal State Dominguez Hills falls to 1-3, 0-2 in conference play with the loss. UC Davis improves to 4-2 on the season, 2-0 in the CCAA. It came down to free throws late and the Aggies answered the call as they converted their final six attempts at the line to withstand a late Toro rush. Trailing by 12 at 52-40 at the 9:05 mark, the Toros went on a 14-4 run over the next seven minutes to bring the game within two at 56-54 with 2:35 remaining. Kevin Blunt led the way as he scored nine of his game-high 19 points in the stretch. Down the stretch it was a matter of free throws and the Aggies connected on their final six attempts to preserve the win. Leading by one at 37-36 three minutes into the second half, Jess McElree pushed the Aggie lead to six by scoring the next seven Aggie points. It ignited a 15-4 UC Davis run which what punctuated by Brent Wyse scoring the final six and giving the Aggies their biggest lead of the game at 52-40. The first half went back and forth as the lead changed hands six times. UC Davis held its biggest lead of the half at 23-17 following two Dominic Callori free throws. CS Dominguez Hills would quickly answer with a 6-0 run of their own to even the score. Brent Wyse continued his hot shooting as he led UC Davis in the period with 10 points off the bench. For the half, the Aggie bench would outscore the Toro reserves by an 18-6 margin. With :03 remaining in the period, Toro guard Earl Rowland (Palma HS) took the ball at three-quarters court, took three dribbles and launched a three-pointer from just across the halfcourt line that counted as the buzzer sounded to give CSUDH a 32-31 halftime lead. Blunt's 19 points and nine boards led all. Earl Rowland poured in 12 points while Brandon Erquhart chipped in with 13.

BLUNT CONTINUES BIG START: Senior Kevin Blunt continues his big start on the campaign. The 6-7 center is averaging 19.3 ppg and 9.3 rpg. Over this past weekend, Blunt scored 42 points and pulled down 18 rebounds. Against Chico St., he registered a game-high 23 points on 8-13 shooting from the field.

CCAA LEADERS: Kevin Blunt leads the CCAA conference in rebounding averaging 9.3 rebounds per game. He also ranks third in scoring and field goal percentage pouring in 19.3 ppg and making .569 of his shots. He is also third at the charity stripe making .864 of his free throws. Point guard Mario Perez has started where he left off last season. The 5-10 senior led the CCAA in assists last year dishing out 6.0 apg. This year, he ranks second with a 5.33 apg average in three games.

ABOUT CS SAN BERNARDINO: The Coyotes are atop the CCAA standings with a 2-0 league mark and a perfect 5-0 record this season. CSUSB is coming off two road wins to open the CCAA schedule defeating CS Stanislaus 81-51 then CS Bakersfield 65-58 last Friday and Saturday night. They are currently ranked No. 6 nationally in the NABC/Division II Bulletin polls. Junior forward Bobby Burries leads the Coyotes in scoring averaging 12.5 ppg. Seniors Glenn Summerall and James Taylor follow averaging 12.0 ppg each. Senior LeRoy Mayo leads the team on the boards pulling down 5.8 rpg. CSUSB is outrebounding the opposition 37.6 - 32.0 and outshooting them .467 - .356.

ABOUT CAL POLY: The Broncos are tied for first in the CCAA standings with a 2-0 league mark and a 4-1 overall record. Cal Poly is coming off impressive victories on the road to start the CCAA schedule winning at CS Stanislaus (70-65) and upsetting CS Bakersfield (67-47) by 20 points in Centennial Garden. Senior guard Lucas LeCour leads the squad in scoring at a 14.4 ppg clip. Senior forward Raymond Hubbard follows knocking in 12.2 ppg while freshman guard Jeff Bonds is also in double figures offensively with 10.0 ppg. Hubbard leads the Broncos on the boards grabbing 7.2 rpg. As a team, CPP is outshooting their opponents .399 - .373 and outrebounding the opposition 40.4 - 38.8.

POOLE BACK IN LINEUP: Senior guard Jacob Poole, who has sat out the last three games due to left knee/foot injuries, is nearly 100% healthy and will be ready to play this weekend. The 5-9 point guard suffered the injury in the Toros season opener and was averaging 19.0 ppg and 10.0 rpg.

Current CCAA Season Standings

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.

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