Box Score Box score
Pomona, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills saw its two-week hold atop the CCAA Conference go by the wayside tonight after a 60-55 loss at Cal Poly Pomona tonight. Coupled with wins by CS San Bernardino and Humboldt State, the Toros, now at 14-5, 8-4 CCAA, find themselves in a tie for 3rd place despite 18 points and 5 boards by Jerrell Smith and 15 points by Rodney Yearby (pictured).
Sophomore Tobias Jahn shared game-high honors with Smith at 18 points as CPP improved to 11-6 overall and 7-5 in the CCAA.
Playing without seniors Kyle Krause and Walter Thompson, the Broncos utilized eight men and played a well-disciplined game. They held the lead throughout, but it wasn't easy against a team that is one of the West Region's powers. In the initial NCAA West Region, the Toros held the second spot behind nationally-ranked BYU-Hawaii.
The Broncos grabbed the early lead and enjoyed double-digit leads throughout much of the first half, beginning at the 9:48 mark. They held CSUDH to just nine field goals in the first 20 minutes and led at halftime, 30-20.
CPP led 39-29 on a Dahir Nasser jumper with 13:15 left in the ballgame. That would be the last time the Broncos led by double digits because CSUDH whittled at the lead. The Toros put together a 13-4 run over the next five-plus minutes.
But CPP didn't relinquish the lead. On three separate occasions the Toros cut the lead to one, but each time the Broncos answered. After Smith's jumper put the score 43-42 CPP, junior guard Austin Swift responded with a 3-pointer and CPP led 46-42 with 7:30 left.
A pair of free throws by Smith again cut CPP's lead to 51-50 with 2:48 remaining and Jahn answered with a jumper to push the Broncos out front 53-50 with 2:30 left.
On CSUDH's next possession, Smith scored a layup, but Jahn answered back with a free throw and CPP stayed out front, 54-52 with 1:52 left.
After a missed 3-pointer from Rodney Yearby, freshman Dwayne Fells scored a pair of free throws, giving CPP a 56-52 cushion with 43 seconds remaining.
After a missed layup and free throw from CSUDH, Nasser scored a pair of free throws and CPP pushed the lead to 58-52 with 24 seconds left.
Robert Willhite's 3-pointer with 15 seconds left put the score at 58-55 CPP, but Jahn scored his final points of the night at the free throw line and the Broncos hung on for the win.
The Toros return home for CCAA action next week, battling Cal State L.A. on Thursday and UC San Diego on Friday. First tip for both contests is at 7:30 pm in the Torodome.
(Courtesy CPP)
