Box score

Chico, CA -- Needing just one win to secure a CCAA Conference Tournament home game, the Toros failed to match the energy of the conference's last place team playing their final game of the season and honoring their departing seniors and retiring head coach of 21 years, and the result was a shocking 75-66 loss to Chico State that drops the Toros not only to 16-10 and 11-9 in the conference and into a 5-way tie for 3rd in the CCAA with Cal State L.A., Cal State Monterey Bay, San Francisco State and UC San Diego, but most likely sends CSUDH to Seaside to take on the Otters in a first-round match-up.

In front of 1,050 fans at Acker Gym, Darroll Phillips scored 21 points, Frank Igbekoyi notched 14 points and nine rebounds, and Rod Hawkins scored 12 points to lift the Wildcats to the 9-point win, just their third victory in the CCAA this year.

The victory capped what has been a frustrating final season for head coach Puck Smith and the Wildcats, who end the campaign with a 7-20 overall and 3-17 record in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).

Dominguez Hills dipped into a 5-way tie despite Nonso Nibo's 16 points, Jerrell Smith's 15 points and eight rebounds, and Mike Steed's 11 points.

Chico State saw an early 19-6 lead disappear early in the first half when Cal State Dominguez Hills outscored the Wildcats 18-0 over a six-minute span. But the Wildcats recovered and tied the game before the Toros scored the final six points of the half to take a 36-30 advantage into intermission.

Things looked dire for Chico State at that point, considering the Wildcats had lost 50 straight when trailing at the half against everyone except Cal State Monterey Bay. But the Wildcats battled back in the second half and got consecutive 3-pointers from Hawkins, both on passes from Darroll Phillips, that gave the Wildcats the lead for good at 46-43 with 12:30 remaining.  Chico State never relinquished that lead.

Currently 9th in the latest NCAA West Region poll released two days ago, tonight's loss should knock the Toros from national postseason consideration unless they earn the automatic bid that comes with claiming the CCAA Conference Championship.

CSUDH's seed, opponent and destination, most likely as the No. 5 seed taking on CS Monterey Bay in Seaside, will be confirmed later tonight by the CCAA Conference office.