Abdelsamad's Free Throws with Three Seconds Left Lifts Aggies to Win, 64-63
Fowzi Abdelsamad’s two free throws with 3.6 seconds remaining seal win in final game of season
March 8, 2003

Complete Box Score

CARSON, Calif.—Cal State Dominguez Hills closed out its season in disappointment with a 64-63 loss to UC Davis in California Collegiate Athletic Association Saturday night in the Torodome. Fowzi Abdelsamad connected on two free throws with 3.6 seconds left in the game to lift the Aggies to the conference win and send the Toros to its eighth consecutive defeat.

UC Davis completes its season 12-15 overall and 9-13 in league play while the Toros close out their year with a 6-21 mark and 4-18 conference record.

The first half saw five different lead changes before Davis took a three-point lead into intermission, 28-25.

UCD came out of the break and built its lead to seven points, 34-27, after a Dominic Callori 3-point basket with 17:49 remaining. But CSUDH answered over the next 4:49 with an 11-1 run to take a 38-35 lead with 13:00 on the clock.

The Aggies came back hitting four of their next five three-point shots, two of them by Robert Ehsan, to take a 47-39 lead with 10:35 left. But once again the Toros battled back going on a 11-3 spurt to knot the score at 50-50 with 6:23 remaining in the game.

Over the final six minutes, UC Davis led twice by three points, the last with 1:00 minute left after a steal and layup by Justin Stearns to make it 62-59.

In the Toros next possession, senior forward Michael Crawford’s (Simi Valley HS) high-arcing jumper in the paint with :47 left brought the team within one point, 62-61. A turnover by Danny Workman in the Aggies next possession, followed by a Stearns foul sent senior Andre’ Brown (San Jose, CA) to the line for a chance to take the lead with :11 seconds left. Brown converted both shots to give CSUDH a 63-62 advantage.

But in Davis’ following possession, Brown was called for a foul on Abdelsamad with 3.6 seconds left setting up the sophomore guards heroics. Senior Justin Goree’s (Fairfield, CA) three-point attempt at the buzzer went off the back of the rim to end the game.

UC Davis was led by Callori’s double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds while Stearns chipped in with 11. No other player was in double-digits offensively.

Cal State Dominguez Hills was led in the losing effort by Crawford’s 17 points. Brown recorded his second double-double of the year with 15 points and 11 boards. Freshman center Ryan Meilleur (Artesia HS) came off the bench to add 13 points and nine rebounds. Goree finished the night with 10 points.

Five seniors completed their CSUDH collegiate playing careers tonight. Andre’ Brown, Michael Crawford, Justin Goree, Bobby Tossetti (Pacific HS) and Abel Velarde (Bell HS) played their last game in a Toro uniform.