Inspired Toros Men Take It to Defending CCAA Champion Seawolves in 79-57 Win
Jonathan Toliver leads three Toros in double figures with 19 points as CSUDH snaps three-game skid
February 10, 2007

Complete Box Score

Carson, CA -- After a tough 8-point loss to 11th-ranked Humboldt State last night, an inspired Toros men's basketball club played perhaps their best game of the season in dismantling defending CCAA champion Sonoma State in a 79-57 rout, led by sophomore Jonathan Toliver’s (Inglewood, CA/Westchester HS) 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field, including 5-of-6 from behind the arc.

The Toros, now 9-12, 6-10 CCAA, exploded to start the contest, turning an 8-2 lead after three minutes of play into a 31-18 advantage 11 minutes later. Carlos Rivers (Long Beach, CA/LA Valley College) provided much of the impetus as he tallied 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-3 from 3-point land. The Seawolves would trim their deficit to single digits on three occasions before the half, but a late surge spurred by a Mike Steed (Antelope, CA/Center HS) tip-in and buckets by Shamont Brown (Jamaica, NY/Riverside CC) and Jamel Ward (Los Angeles, CA/Inglewood HS) would give CSUDH a 43-31 lead entering intermission.

After the break, CSUDH continued its stellar shooting, pushing the lead to 50-33 on a Steed trey at the 17-minute mark, and to 22 at 64-42 on a Toliver trey at 7:44. Toliver continued his smooth stroke from long range as he drained three treys in a span of three minutes, putting an exclamation point on CSUDH’s offensive performance.

The Toros continued to pour it on the Seawolves (9-11, 8-8 CCAA), pushing their lead to 79-52 with just under two minutes left in regulation, after which CSUDH employed a “no foul” defense, allowing the Seawolves to score the game’s final five points.

Rivers and Steed rounded out the double-figure Toros with 14 and 10 points, while Trevon Bryant (Tifton, GA/Compton CC) led a solid defensive effort for CSUDH in tallying four blocks as SSU was held to 38.6% shooting from the field. For the game, CSUDH nailed 50.8% of it shots and 58.8% from 3-point land, while the Seawolves hit just 6-of-21 from behind the arc (28.6%).

The Toros continue their homestand next Friday as crosstown-rival Cal State L.A. pays Carson a visit, with first tip scheduled for 7:30 pm in the Torodome.