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) 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. lay-up. After Chico State's Brandon Sligh turned the ball over giving the Toros a chance to tie, CSUC's Argenal stole a

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.