Toros Men Hold On to Defeat Cal State L.A. 72-67, Sweep Season Series
Kevin Blunt's double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds lead CSUDH to conference win
January 26, 2002

Complete Box Score

CARSON, Calif.-Senior center Kevin Blunt's 18 points and 11 rebounds led the Toros to a 72-67 California Collegiate Athletic Association win over Cal State LA tonight in the Torodome. The win gave the Toros the two-game season series sweep over their crosstown rival.

CSUDH (5-12, 4-8 CCAA) took a 39-35 lead into the intermission after shooting a blazing 58% from the field in the first half led by Blunt's 14 points on 6-7 shooting from the floor.

The Toros opened the second period with a 15-8 to take an 11-point lead 54-43 with 12:36 remaining in the game. During the run, junior forward Michael Crawford scored seven of the Toros points. Cal State LA (6-11, 4-8 CCAA) answered with a small 5-2 run capped by consecutive baskets by Jonathan Levy making it 56-48 with 9:31 left.

Cal State Dominguez Hills opened the lead to 12 points over the next two minutes taking a 62-50 lead capped on a dunk by Crawford with 7:02 remaining. The CSLA defense would hold the Toros offense scoreless over the next two and a half minutes and trimmed the lead to 62-55 on a free throw by Ronald Johnson with 4:23 on the clock. Both teams would trade baskets over the next two minutes before Kenjiro Hongo's layup with 1:30 remaining made it a two point ballgame 68-66.

However, in the Toros next possession, senior guard Jacob Poole hit a 12-foot jumper to give the home team a four-point cushion with just over a minute left. After a CSUDH foul, Ronald Johnson went to the line and converted one of two shots to trim the Toro lead to 70-67 with :50-seconds remaining. Ernie Burries would seal the game for Cal State Dominguez Hills making two free throws with :19-seconds left for the final 72-67 result.

Kevin Blunt and Jacob Poole each poured in 18 points to pace the Toros attack. Michael Crawford answered his 27 point performance on Wednesday night with 15 points tonight. Junior forward Justin Goree also scored in double figures with 11 points, all of them in the first half. Blunt registered his fifth double-double of the year with a game-high 11 rebounds.

For Cal State LA, who dropped their fourth game in a row, the team was led by Ronald Johnson with a game-high 28 points. In his two games against the Toros this week, Johnson was impressive scoring a total of 59 points. Johnson also pulled down a team-high five rebounds. Jonathan Levy was the only other Golden Eagle player in double figures chipping in with 13 points.

The Toros will continue a season-long five-game homestand next weekend hosting UC Davis on Friday, February 1. First tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.