CSUDH Men's Basketball Weekly Release No. 3
December 23, 2002

UPCOMING GAMES...
vs. Humboldt State (CA)/Monday, Dec. 30/7:30 PM

TOROS PUT PENGUINS ON ICE, DEFEAT DOMINICAN 54-50:
It was the worst of times, it was the best of times in a tale of two halves in the Torodome last Wednesday night. Cal State Dominguez Hills transformed a 14-point halftime deficit into a 54-50 non-conference victory over Dominican University. CSUDH shot 37% and committed 14 turnovers in the first half while the Penguins shot a blazing 63% from the field (12-19) to go into the break with a 33-19 lead. The Toros brought the cold air back with them from its recent Northern California trip managing only three points in the first 11 minutes of the game. But Cal State Dominguez Hills turned the heat up coming out of the intermission on a 13-3 run in the first five minutes. Geovanny Aispuro (LB Jordan HS) hit a 3-pointer to trim the lead to 36-31 at 14:35 to cap the run. The Toros took its first lead of the game, 40-39, at 10:17 on an offensive rebound and tip-in by senior forward Michael Crawford (Pacoima/Simi Valley HS). Crawford and senior Andre' Brown (San Jose/USF) would connect on two free throws each over the next 1:20 to give CSUDH a three-point margin, 44-41, at 8:12. Both teams traded baskets over the next five minutes to keep the game close. Dominican tied it for the final time, 50-50, with a three-point shot with 2:27 remaining. Brown’s baseline jumper at 1:07 turned out to be the game-winning shot as the Toros would hold the Penguins scoreless over the final 2:27 going on for the 54-50 win. Brown scored 16 second half points, 12 of them at the charity stripe, and grabbed a game-high 8 rebounds to lead the Toros. Senior Justin Goree (Fairfield, CA) added 12 points and 5 rebounds. Turnovers were the key to the game as CSUDH had only three in the second half while forcing 21 for DU.

TOROS DROP FIRST CCAA GAME OF YOUNG SEASON:
The Toros 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 its 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 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, at 15:48. The Golden Eagles built its lead to as many as 11 points, 57-46, with 3:44 left. After Toros’ starting point guard Eduardo Morales (Los Angeles/Fremont HS) went down with a knee injury at the 3:31 mark, CSUDH responded with a late run to make the game close. Over the next two and a half minutes, the Toros went on a 11-2 run to trim the deficit, 59-57, capped by a Justin Goree three-point shot with just :59 left in the game. CSULA 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. 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.

TOROS SCORING LEADERS:
Senior forward Justin Goree leads a trio of players averaging in double figures offensively. Goree is knocking in 14.0 ppg and is second on the squad hitting 49% of his shots (34-70). He also paces the team from beyond the arc making 44% (12-27) of his 3-point shots. Andre Brown continues to play strong in his first year in a Toros uniform. The 6-foot-5 forward is scoring at a 12.8 ppg clip and leads the team on the boards grabbing 6.2 rpg. Ryan Meilleur rounds out the trio averaging 12.3 ppg. The 6-foot-8 center leads CSUDH making 61% (28-46) of his shots from the floor. He also leads the squad with 8 blocks and is tied for the team lead with 9 steals.

TOROS STRUGGLES CONTINUE AT THE LINE:
In the early going, CSUDH is making Shaquille O’Neill look great at the free throw line. In its first six games, the Toros are shooting a measly 54% (71-131). Opponents, on the other hand, are shooting 74% from the charity stripe (103-140).

MORALES DOWN, POSSIBLY OUT:
Junior point-guard Eduardo Morales suffered a left knee injury in the final minutes of the game against Cal State LA on Saturday. The outlook is guarded at best, but fears are that the ACL is damaged. The extent and severity of the injury will be determined later this week.

GAY HAPPY TO BE PLAYING:
Freshman Jamel Gay (Carson/Artesia HS) finally made his debut playing in both games last week. Gay saw limited action off the bench against Dominican playing in only two minutes. However, the 6-foot-1 guard played significant minutes in the CSULA loss. Gay played 17 minutes and scored four points. He went 2-4 at the line and dished out a team-high four assists. Gay had to sit out the first four games due to a stress fracture to his left ankle suffered in preseason practice. The first-year player is one of coach Hauser’s top recruits. Gay was ranked 66th statewide and 16th at his position by HoopScoop and SoCalHoops. Gay’s health couldn’t come at a better time with the loss of Morales.

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK:
Not only is freshman center Ryan Meilleur scoring regularly from the block, he is taking away baskets at the defensive end of the floor. He leads the Toros with eight blocks. Meilleur blocked a season-high four shots against CS Monterey Bay then added three more against CSULA on Saturday.

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