Second-Half Surge Quiets Lions' Roar in Toros' 84-64 Win

Jerrell Smith posts 21 points and 9 boards in victory

Box Score

Carson, CA -- A hotly-contested battle on a chilly Monday night in the Torodome turned into an 84-64 CSUDH win as the Toros outscored visiting Vanguard by 16 in a momentum-changing second half that brought the hosts to 8-1 overall to close the 2008 calendar year. Senior Jerrell Smith led all players with 21 points and 9 boards.

Smith was the story in the first half as he scored 13 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field, leading CSUDH to a 10-point lead on a jumper at the 8:21 mark as the Toros stretched the edge to as much as 14 at 29-15 on an Aaron Tinsley lay-in.

The visitors, however, would go on a 7-2 run to close the half, keeping within striking distance at 35-31 entering the locker room.

CSUDH pushed its lead to 8 on a Ryan Walton layup, before the Lions cut the lead to a single point on two occasions at the 14:14 and 13:30 marks. A Smith jumper was then followed by three-consecutive layups to give the Toros all the breathing room they would need, as a 21-4 run from 8:14 to 3:59 gave CSUDH its biggest lead of the night at 78-53, eventually sending the Lions to a 2-8 mark on the year with the final 84-64 count.

Smith missed a double-double by a single board, while Walton's 16 points and Jonathan Toliver's 11 gave the Toros a well-balanced victory. VU's Elvis Whitelow led the Lions with 13 points, with Gregory Scott and Dennis Heenan both chipping in 10 points in the loss.

CSUDH, now 8-1, takes a week and a half off for the holidays before resuming CCAA Conference action on the road at cross-town rival Cal State L.A. on December 31, with first tip set for 3:00 pm in the Eagles Nest.

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