Chico State Topples CSUDH Despite Eric Crookshank's Game-High 16 Points, 13 Rebounds and 7 Assists
January 31, 2004

Complete Box Score

Carson, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills junior Eric Crookshank (Vallejo, CA/Hogan HS) grabbed game-high totals of 13 boards and seven assists, and tied for for game-high honors with 16 points, but visiting Chico State outscored the Toros by 12 in the decisive second half to take a 80-73 come-from-behind victory on Saturday night at the Torodome.

CSUDH falls to 6-11, 4-8 CCAA, while CSUC improves to 11-6, 8-4 CCAA.

The visiting Wildcats scored first, building a 9-2 lead with just over three minutes elapsed in the first half. After neither team scored over the next three-minute stretch, Malik Harris (Oakland, CA/Berkeley HS) started the Toro rally, scoring all eight of his points in the first frame. An Antoine Griffin (Long Beach, CA/Millikan HS) layup, followed by a Crookshank three-pointer and a Griffin jumper gave the Toros a 13-12 lead at the 9:28 mark, their first lead of the contest.

The Wildcats would answer, however, outscoring CSUDH 8-1 over the next four minutes, reclaiming the advantage at 20-16. Behind two free throws each by Lamar Lawrence (Hawthorne, CA/Bishop Montgomery HS) and Harris, the Toros would claw back to tie, eventually taking a 31-26 lead at the break on a Jamel Gay (Carson, CA/Artesia HS) jumper with :02 left in the half.

After a Griffin three-pointer started the scoring in the second half, the Wildcats mounted their comeback. Riding a three-pointer by Brian Faulstich, two free throws by Tim Haley and another three-ball by Doug Little, CSUC eventually knotted the game at 39-39 on a Ben Perak jumper at the 16:06 mark.

Two three-pointers by Colin Carr would bump the Wildcat lead to 49-43, and a Will Bonner jumper at 11:45 would give the visitors their first double-digit lead of the evening.

The Toros cut the deficit to as little as seven on a Saul Lankster (Long Beach, CA/Centennial HS) layup, but CSUC would keep CSUDH near a 10-point disadvantage the rest of the way, using a pair of Narcippa Teague free throws with :03 remaining to give the Wildcats an 80-71 victory.

Lankster contributed 14 points in the loss, while Lawrence's 13 and Griffin's 12 points rounded out the Toro double-figure scorers.

For the Wildcats, Carr tied for game-high honors with 16 points, while Perak's 14, Faulstich's 13 and 11 points each by Haley and Little keyed a balanced CSUC attack.

CSUDH travels to Chico State and UC Davis next weekend, before returning home to face Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino the weekend of February 13-14. First tip for the home contests is at 7:30 p.m. in the Torodome.