Toros Comeback Falls Short at Vanguard University, Men Defeated 78-72
December 16, 2004

Complete Box Score

COSTA MESA, Calif.--(December 16, 2004)--Saul Lankster (Long Beach, CA/Centennial HS) scored 16 points off the bench, but it wasn't enough as Vanguard University held on for a 78-72 non-conference win over Cal State Dominguez Hills Thursday evening in The Pit.

The game was expected to be a "barn-burner" and an exciting game to watch for the fans. The Toros and Lions didn't disappoint. CSUDH (1-7) started out well in the first six minutes of the game jumping out to a 12-5 lead after an offensive rebound and put-back by Michael Roche (Lakewood, CA/LB Poly HS). But the host Lions answered with a 9-0 run to take a 14-12 lead at 11:35.

The first half saw two more ties before Vanguard (6-4) took control to take a 32-26 lead into the intermission.

Cal State Dominguez Hills closed the gap to two points, 38-36, in the first four minutes of the second period after a lay-up by Quenton Harvey (Compton, CA/Utah State). However, the Lions answered using an 11-2 stretch, including three three-pointers by Brian Kim, to take a 49-38 lead with 12:59 remaining.

After a CSUDH timeout, Saul Lankster tied the game with a 13-point outburst of his own. Lankster hit for back-to-back-to-back treys, a two-point bucket and a tip-in to knot the score at 51-51 with 9:12 left in the game.

Both teams exchanged baskets before Vanguard took the lead for good with 7:38 left on Leon Rosbouough jumper. VU built its lead back up to 10 points with a 10-2 run making it 65-55 with 2:59 remaining in the game.

CSUDH trimmed the deficit down to four points four times over the final three minutes, but would get no closer as the Lions converted 9-of-10 from the free throw line down the stretch. The Toros, on the other hand, shot only 53% (10-19) the entire game from the charity stripe.

Senior guard Les Norman followed Lankster with 14 points, while senior forward Eric Crookshank went for 10 points and tied for the team lead with six rebounds. Lankster finished 6-of-9 from the field, including 4-of-4 from beyond the 3-point line.

Four players scored in double figures for Vanguard with Kim leading the quartet with 23 points.

Cal State Dominguez Hills is back in non-conference action next Thursday hosting the University of Hawaii-Hilo at the Torodome beginning at 7:30 p.m.