CSUDH Wins Men's Basketball Season Opener with Vanguard in Overtime, 73-71
Freshman Ryan Meilleur leads Toros in first collegiate game with 23 points and 10 rebounds
November 22, 2002

Complete Box Score

CARSON, Calif.-The Cal State Dominguez Hills recruiting class lived up to its billing tonight as 6-8 freshman center Ryan Meilleur (Lakewood/Artesia HS) poured in 23 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the Toros to a 73-71 overtime win over Vanguard University in its season opener Friday night in the Torodome.

CSUDH led from the opening tip and built a 51-38 lead in the second half with 12:10 left in the game. But Vanguard responded with a 18-7 run over the next 10 minutes to trim the lead to 58-56 with 1:52 left. The Toros took a 63-58 lead with :32 seconds remaining when Meilleur made the front end of two charity shots.

Vanguard came within three points when James Hartman sank two free throws with :17 seconds left to trim the lead 63-60. After a VU foul, freshman Saul Lankster (Long Beach/Compton Centennial HS) went to the line to try to give the Toros a five point cushion with just seconds left. But the first year player missed both free throw attempts with :16 left giving Vanguard new life.

In the Lions next possession, Lankster committed a foul on a 3-point attempt by VU's Ryan Moreau who promptly sank all three charity shots to send the game into the extra period.

Vanguard took its first lead of the game 65-63 with 4:03 left in overtime on two free throws by Hartman. But CSUDH took the lead for good on an offensive rebound and put-back by Meilleur giving the Toros a 68-67 lead with 1:29 left. Meilleur would make five free throws down the stretch, scoring seven of the teams' 10 points in overtime to seal the win.

Meilleur led Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-0) scoring 23 points on 7-10 shooting from the floor and 9-14 from the free throw line. He also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds to register his first career double-double. Senior guard Justin Goree had 20 points on the night on 8-14 from the field including 4-9 from the 3-point arc.

Vanguard (1-1) was led by senior Leviticus Williamson with 16 points and eight rebounds. Conrad Adamczak chipped in with 11 points off the bench. Four other Lions knocked in 10 points in the losing effort.

Cal State Dominguez Hills returns to non-conference action on Monday when they visit Cal Baptist in Riverside. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.