Toros Lose First CCAA Game in Hotly-Contested Battle at CSULA, 67-62
December 21, 2002

Complete Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Cal State Dominguez Hills outrebounded and outshot Cal State L.A. but once again had trouble at the free throw line as a team while losing to the Golden Eagles, 67-62, Saturday afternoon in California Collegiate Athletic Association action.

The hotly contested cross-town rivalry continued as aggressive, physical play ensued in both halves. But is was the free throws that made the difference in the game as CSULA hit their charity shots (27-37) down the stretch while CSUDH shot only 52% (12-23) in the game.

The Toros got 14 first half points from its bench, including five from freshman Saul Lankster (Long Beach/Centennial HS), to go into the break down by three points, 29-26.

CSUDH (3-3, 1-1 CCAA) came out strong in the second half opening up the period with an 8-0 run. The Toros took its first lead of the game, 30-29, on Andre´Brown’s (San Jose/USF) jumper in the key at 18:51. Brown’s basket two possessions later at 17:23 would give the Toros its biggest lead, 34-29, with 17:23 remaining.

But CSULA answered with a 7-1 run of its own and took the lead for good, 36-35, on a jumper by senior forward Ronald Johnson at 15:48. Johnson would finish with a game-high 27 points, 16 coming at the free throw line.

The Golden Eagles built its lead to as many as 11 points, 57-46, after a pair of free throws from Johnson with 3:44 left.

But after Toros’ starting point guard Eduardo Morales (Los Angeles/Fremont HS) went down with a knee injury at the 3:31 mark, Cal State Dominguez Hills responded with a late run to make the game close.

Over the next two and a half minutes, CSUDH went on a 11-2 run to trim the deficit to 59-57 capped by a Justin Goree (Farifield, CA) three-point shot with just :59 left in the game.

Cal State L.A. would score the rest of its eight points in the game going perfect at the line (8-8) to hold on for the CCAA victory. The Toros were within three points twice in the final seconds, the last time on a 3-point basket by Brown with 19 ticks on the clock, but Johnson sealed the win going 4-4 at the line the rest of the way.

Goree paced the Toros in the losing effort with 15 points and eight rebounds. Freshman center Ryan Meilleur (Lakewood/Artesia HS) chipped in with 11 points and Brown finished with 10 points.

CSUDH is off for nine days during the holiday break before hosting the No-1 ranked team in NCAA II in Humboldt State on Monday, Dec. 30 at the Torodome. First tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.