Toros Win CCAA Men's Basketball Opener at Cal State L.A., 62-48
CSUDH snaps three-game skid behind Eric Crookshank's 16 points
December 6, 2003

Complete Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif.-Eric Crookshank's (Vallejo, CA/Hogan HS) 16 points and nine rebounds helped Cal State Dominguez Hills snap a three-game losing skid while in the process win their California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) season opener after defeating cross-town rival Cal State L.A., 62-48, on Saturday afternoon at the Eagles' Nest in Los Angeles.

The win improves CSUDH to 2-3 and 1-0 while the loss drops CSULA to 2-3 and 0-1 in league play.

The first five minutes of the game was nothing to write home about with the teams combining for five points. With the game tied, 12-12, at the 7:25-minute mark, Cal State Dominguez Hills took the lead for good on a great individual effort from Crookshank. The 6-6 junior stole the ball at midcourt and threw down one of his five monstrous dunks in the game. CSUDH would close out the half on a 13-2 run with Crookshank ending it with another dunk on an offensive rebound to send the Toros into the locker room with a 33-21 lead.

CSULA trimmed the score to eight points, 33-25, on a LeMar Ruffin jumper at 17:55 in the second half. But the Toros answered with a 13-5 run over the next seven minutes to take control, 46-31, with 10:12 left in the game.

Cal State L.A. cut the deficit down to eight points twice in the final three minutes of the game, but CSUDH converted five of its six free throws down the stretch and got another slam from Crookshank at the buzzer to account for the 62-48 final.

Cal State Dominguez Hills utilized a gutsy defensive effort forcing 20 Golden Eagle turnovers in the game while registering 13 steals on the night. The Toro defense also held CSULA to 31.4% shooting in the game and only 26.1 % in the first half. Cal State L.A. missed all 11 attempts from behind the three-point arc.

After Crookshank's near double-double, the Toros were led by seniors Lamar Lawrence (Hawthorne, CA/Bishop Montgomery HS) and Antoine Griffin (Long Beach, CA/LB Millikan HS) chipping in 10 points each. Lawrence also grabbed six boards off the glass.

Cal State L.A. was led offensively by Ruffin with 16 points and Brandon Dalton with 13. Justen Naughton registered a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 14 boards.

CSUDH is off for two weeks and is back in action against this same Golden Eagle team on Saturday, December 20 at the Torodome. The game is once again scheduled for an early first tip beginning at 3 PM.