Sonoma State Pulls Away From Toros Late, Win 69-57
Les Norman's game-high 20 points not good enough for CSUDH in CCAA tilt
December 4, 2004

Complete Box Score

CARSON, Calif.-Les Norman (Lebanon, IL/Lebanon HS) scored a game-high 20 points for Cal State Dominguez Hills, but it was all for naught as Sonoma State pulled away late in the game for a 69-57 California Collegiate Athletic Association win Saturday night in the Torodome.

It was a very tight game in the first half with several lead changes, CSUDH held a six point lead, 26-20 with 5:17 left in the period after an off-balance jumper inside the paint by Norman. But Sonoma would hold the Toros scoreless the rest of the way, while going on an 11-0 run to take 31-26 lead into the locker room. In that span, Ryan Hensel hit back-to-back three-pointers to tie the game, followed by another trey from Andrew Kochevar with under a minute remaining.

The Seawolves (3-2, 2-0 CCAA) raced out to an 11-point lead in the first five minutes of the second half, 43-32, capped on a running jumper by Hensel with 14:52 remaining. The Toros switched to a zone defense that SSU couldn't seem to break, and used an 8-0 spurt over the next 3:45 to trim the deficit down to three points, 43-40 with 11:07 left in the game.

But the Seawolves had an answer again, this time using a 11-4 run to regain a double-digit lead, 54-44, with 5:34 remaining. Sonoma would make 12-of-14 from the free throw line down the stretch, while forcing six Toro turnovers to hold on for the win.

Hensel led a trio of SSU players in double figures with 18 points and seven rebounds. J.T. Tipton poured in 17 points and Vince Inglima added 12. After Norman's 20 points, Quenton Harvey (Compton, CA/Cleveland HS) chipped in with 15. Eric Crookshank (Vallejo, CA/Hogan HS) led the team with seven boards as the Toros outrebounded the Seawolves, 34-28, in the game.

CSUDH (0-6, 0-2 CCAA) will be looking for their first win of the campaign traveling to Fullerton, CA on Tuesday to take on Hope International University in non-conference action. First tip is set for 7:30 p.m.