Toros Men Break 11-Year Spell Against Cal State Bakersfield, Win 83-78
Les Norman records double-double with 26 points and 10 boards to beat Roadrunners
February 12, 2005

Complete Box Score

CARSON, Calif.--(February 12, 2005)--It's been a long time coming, 11 years to be exact, but Cal State Dominguez Hills finally broke the spell with an 83-78 California Collegiate Athletic Association victory over Cal State Bakersfield Saturday night in the Torodome.

Senior guard Les Norman led five Toro players in double figures with 26 points and 10 rebounds.

CSUDH (7-14, 6-8 CCAA) took a 17-point lead into halftime, 39-22, holding the 'Runners to 29% shooting from the field in the first 20 minutes. The Toros meanwhile shot a blazing 55% in the first period.

CSUB (13-8, 8-6 CCAA) cut the lead down to 12 points in the first nine minutes of the second half. However, Cal State Dominguez Hills went on a 14-8 run over the next four minutes to build its biggest lead of the game, 67-47, capped by an Alexous Scruggs jumper at the top of the key with 6:38 remaining.

But Cal State Bakersfield made it exciting down the stretch going hot from the field and playing a tough full-court press enabling them to get the lead down to single digits, 78-69, with 1:45 left in the game after a Toro turnover and layup by Dwuan Rice.

The Roadrunners would get as close as three points, 81-78, after a pair of free throws by Rice with just :05 ticks on the clock. But Norman would nail two free throws in the final seconds to secure the win for the Toros.

CSUDH had four other players in double digit scoring including Saul Lankster who came off the bench for 11. It was Lankster's coast-to-coast thunderous one-handed dunk that brought the Toro faithful to their feet with just over five minutes left in the game. Phillip Givens, Scruggs and Quishawn Harrell rounded out the scoring attack, chipping in with 10 points each.

The win was the first for the Toros over Cal State Bakersfield since the 1993-94 season when CSUDH defeated the 'Runners 65-63 in Carson.

The Toros continue its four-game homestand with a pair of league games next weekend. Chico State visits on Friday beginning at 7:30 p.m.