This Week in Toros Men's Basketball
November 21, 2005

The Toros host Vanguard University in their season home opener on Tuesday, November 22, with a scheduled 7:30 p.m. tipoff. They then travel up the road for the CSULA Thanksgiving Classic, taking on Seattle Pacific (Friday @ 1 p.m.) and Central Washington (Saturday @ 1 p.m.) in the Eagles Nest.

About the 2005-06 Toros: The 2005-06 Toros welcome 11 newcomers to a team that went 7-20 last season in head coach Damaine Powell’s first season as CSUDH head coach. With those losses, however, came knowledge and experience, and an understanding of what’s needed in a program that’s rebuilding in a tough conference.

“One thing that sticks out the most is how competitive the conference was,” Powell reflects. “I think a lot of people have a misconception that Division II consists of players not talented to play Division I, but that’s not the case. That’s one of the things I learned from last year, the talent we needed to get to be competitive with the top teams, and that’s what I took away from it.”

Though Powell has upped the ante with his new squad, however, he knows it’ll take time for all the pieces to come together.

“Everybody’s excited because we’ve got a fusion of new talent, but it’s going to be a process. But even this year, we’re going to keep getting better.”

Pre-Season Exhibitions: The Toros began their 2005-06 campaign with exhibitions against NCAA DI schools USC and Cal State Northridge.

Against the Trojans, Mario Malave lead all scorers with 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including 5-of-6 from the charity stripe, but the host Trojans used an 18-point halftime lead to hold off the Toros, 97-84, who outscored USC by nine in the second half. Sophomore Nonso Nibo provided a spark off the bench with 6-of-10 shooting from the field, including two monstrous dunks, the latter helping fuel CSUDH’s second-half rally.

In the Matadome, Malave again paced CSUDH with 26 points, this time on 10-of-15 shooting, but CSUN’s Mike Efevberha poured in a game-high 30 points, including 3-of-6 from behind the arc and 7-of-7 from the charity stripe, as the Matadors took a 96-73 decision. Kevin Crockett chipped in with nine points for the Toros with all of his buckets coming from 3-point range.

Change ... Is A Good Thing: The 2005-06 squad features 11 new players and three returners donning the Cardinal & Gold, and will look to bring the Toros back to its winning ways. Three of those newcomers, Murphy Cooper, Eric Montgomery and Trevon Bryant, are familiar faces for coach Powell as he coached them to a state title as freshmen in 2003-04, one of two championships he led Compton Community College to in his seven years at the helm of the program.

A Matter of Size: In addition to having 11 new faces, this year’s Toros squad also will have an influx of size. Four of the newcomers stand at least 6’7”, compared to last year’s squad, whose tallest player stood at 6’7”. Junior transfer Trevon Bryant tops the Toros with his 6’9” frame, while fellow junior transfer Joe Johnson stands in at 6’8”. Two other juniors make the 6’7” height, as Mario Malave and Durwin Williams will give CSUDH both a presence and depth in the paint the Toros have not seen for a while. For good measure, senior Eric Montgomery comes in at 6’6”, while freshman Jonathan Toliver is at 6’5”.

Introducing Drew Ward: Congratulations go to assistant coach Max Ward and his wife, Diane, as they gave birth to a baby boy on Friday, November 4. Coming into this world at a healthy 8 lbs., 5 oz., and measuring at 21 inches tall, the proud new father couldn’t help but contain his excitement.

“I have coached many players and my wife Diane is the best payer I have ever coached,” the excited father states. “She is a true champion for the way she handled the whole experience, and her determination and fight to push Drew out was incredible.”

Like the dedicated coach he is, the elder Ward arrived on time for the scrimmage at USC.

Toros Announce 2005-06 Basketball Web Cast Schedule With Waldcast.net: CSUDH and Waldcast.net have announced the broadcast schedule for the upcoming Toros 2005-06 men’s and women’s basketball seasons. A total of 15 men’s games will be webcast, including two preseason exhibition contests, all of which can be heard on the Cal State Dominguez Hills Athletics website

The men’s webcast schedule continues this Tuesday as the Toros kick off their season at home against Vanguard University, scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.

Longtime southland broadcaster Ronnie Wald, who begins his third year as the basketball broadcast voice of the Toros, will be calling the play-by-play.