Toros Can’t Get Over Hump in Chico State’s 80-76 Men’s Basketball Win
January 14, 2006

Complete Box Score

Carson, CA -- Junior Carlos Rivers (Long Beach, CA/LA Valley College) tallied game-high scoring honors with 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting, but two costly turnovers in the game’s final three minutes sealed the Toros’ fate as the hosts dropped a hard-fought 80-76 contest to visiting Chico State on Saturday night in the Torodome. With the loss, CSUDH drops to 4-8, 2-4 CCAA, while CSUC improves to 5-8, 4-2 CCAA.

In the opening frame, Mario Malave (Emeryville, CA/Bakersfield College) scored the Toros’ first six points as CSUDH took a quick 6-2 lead, but three fouls in the first 10 minutes of play sent Malave to the bench for the remainder of the half, allowing the visitors to forge a slim 18-12 lead. The Toros picked up for their scoring leader, however, taking the lead at 19-18 on a Rivers 3-pointer with 8:21 left in the first 20-minute frame. Rivers and Durwin Williams (Compton, CA/Glendale JC) would keep the Wildcats at bay for the rest of the period as CSUDH would extend its lead to 29-24 on a Rivers 3-pointer, but the Wildcats would capitalize on Malave’s absence and chip away at the Toro lead, claiming the advantage at 36-35 on a Justin Argenal trey with just 45 seconds left until halftime. Rivers would notch a bucket with just under 20 second left, but three CSUC foul shots gave the Wildcats a 39-37 advantage entering the half.

The Wildcats began the second half on a 9-2 run, highlighted by two offensive tip-ins by Pat Galos, who also added an assist in the surge. The Toros, however, would take advantage of a well-rested Malave as the junior would notch six-consecutive points, trimming the Chico State lead to 48-47 at the 15:00 mark. However, a technical foul called on Rivers gave the Wildcats two free throws and possession and Argenal took advantage, nailing both free throws and hitting a trey to extend Chico State’s lead to 53-47. Malave kept the Toros close by converting a lay-up and hitting two free throws to bring the Toros to 55-53 with 2:43 left in regulation, but the visitors would outscore CSUDH 15-6 over the next five minutes to take control of the contest. After a Nonso Nibo (Westchester, CA/St. Bernard's HS) 3-pointer and free throw on consecutive possessions brought CSUDH back to within striking distance at 70-63, the game took a turn in Chico State’s favor as Malave picked up his fifth foul on a Galos 3-point make, allowing Galos to convert an ensuing free throw for the uncommon 4-point play, and a CSUC 74-63 lead.

CSUDH, however, would go on an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to cut the deficit to 74-71 with 3:27 left in regulation, the last two points coming on a Jonathan Toliver (Inglewood, CA/Westchester HS) lay-up. After Chico State’s Brandon Sligh turned the ball over giving the Toros a chance to tie, CSUC’s Argenal stole a Kevin Crockett (Long Beach, CA/CSULB) pass and dished to Michael Stockhammer, whose lay-up pushed CSUC’s lead back to five. Undaunted, the Toros would trim the lead to 76-74 on a Nibo lay-up with 1:49 left to play, but after an Olajuwon Jones turnover one minute later opened the door for CSUDH, Argenal again put a stop to any hopes of a Toro comeback, this time swiping a Toliver cross-court pass and finding an open Galos, who would convert both free throws after the Toros were forced to foul with 0:25 remaining. Rivers would bring the Toros to within two at 78-76, but CSUC’s Argenal converted two free throws down the stretch to account for the final 80-76 Wildcat victory.

Malave finished with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while Williams notched the game’s sole double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. For the Wildcats, Andy Bocian’s 16 points paced a balanced CSUC attack as five Wildcats notched at least 10 points in the contest: Jones (15 pts.), Galos (13), Argenal (11) and Stockhammer (10). Though the Toros’s noticeable size advantage resulted in six more rebounds for CSUDH, CSUC enjoyed a +10 differential in points off turnovers, shifting the game’s balance towards Chico State.

The Toros travel to UC San Diego and co-CCAA champion Cal State San Bernardino next weekend, before returning home to host Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Monterey Bay the week of January 23. First tip for both of those match-ups is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Torodome.