Second-Half Surge Pushes Toros Past Tritons in 60-51 Victory
Barnes garners game’s sole double-double in win
December 20, 2006

Complete Box Score

Carson, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills junior Jamaal Barnes (Compton, CA/Compton JC) tallied a double-double of 13 boards and 10 points as the Toros (4-3, 2-1 CCAA) outscored visiting UC San Diego 35-19 in a dominant second half to take a 60-51 win in front of a spirited Wednesday night crowd in the Torodome.

“Long range” was the operative phrase for the Tritons (3-5, 1-2 CCAA) in the first half as UCSD connected for 3-pointers on its first three possessions in taking a quick 9-5 lead. The Toros would respond with interior defense, using a Trevon Bryant (Tifton, GA/Compton CC) block at 14:45 that resulted in a Barnes fast break dunk for a 11-10 Toro advantage. Unlike CSUDH’s 0-for-3 from long range in the first half, UCSD’s hot hand from 3-point land would continue as the Tritons would connect for 70% (7-for-10) from behind the arc, led by Robby Peters’ 4-for-4, as UCSD would take a 32-25 lead into intermission.

After exchanging buckets to begin the second half, an old-fashioned 3-point play by Jonathan Toliver (Inglewood, CA/Westchester HS) at 14:46 cut the Triton lead to 38-33, spurring an 8-0 run that saw the Toros take a 39-38 lead at 10:58, with the last four points coming from Barnes on a monster alley-oop dunk from a Jamel Ward (Los Angeles, CA/Inglewood HS) assist, followed by two free throws to give CSUDH the 1-point lead.

The Toros would tack on nine more points to lead 48-38 before two free throws by UCSD’s Henry Patterson at 6:56 broke a nearly 8-minute Triton scoring drought. Carlos Rivers (Long Beach, CA/LA Valley College) would pick up a charge before heating up from behind the arc, nailing two 3-pointers to push CSUDH’s lead back to 11 at 51-40.

The Tritons, however, would regain their scoring touch, connecting for 5-consecutive points to force a Toro timeout. UCSD’s defense would then step up with consecutive steals, leading to consecutive buckets which trimmed CSUDH’s lead to 51-49 with 3:44 left in regulation.

A Mike Steed (Antelope, CA/Center HS) foul shot broke UCSD’s run, and started a streak that saw the Toros score the next four points to give them breathing room at 56-49 with 90 ticks left on the clock. After the teams exchanged two free throws to bring the score to 58-51, the Toros connected for the final two foul shots of the game as time wound down, securing the hard fought 60-51 win.

Steed led the Toros with 12 points while Rivers added 11, including 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. Barnes played huge on both ends of the floor, grabbing nine defensive boards and throwing down two monstrous dunks. Peters scored all 12 of his points in the first half to lead UCSD, while Clint Allard and Patterson chipped in 11 points each in the loss.

After hitting seven 3-pointers in the first half, the Tritons went cold to the tune of one make in 10 attempts, while Rivers accounted for both Toro makes after intermission. After suffering from the foul line in its first five contests, the Toros drained 72.7% in the win, including 13-for-17 (76.5%) in the second half.

The Toros play their final game of the 2006 calendar year on Thursday, December 28, as they battle Grand Canyon University, with first tip scheduled for 7:00 pm in Phoenix, Arizona.