Rohnert Park, CA -- Knowing it was just one win away from a CCAA Championship heading into the final two games of the regular season, Cal State Dominguez Hills withstood a fierce challenge from host Sonoma State in taking a 70-60 decision over the Seawolves to claim at least a share of their first CCAA Championship since 1986-87, and a first round hosting berth for the upcoming CCAA Tournament on Tuesday, March 3.  James Cawthorne led the CCAA Champs with 17 points.

The Toros looked to make quick work of the Seawolves after taking a 13-2 lead with just five minutes elapsed in the opening session.  The hosts, however, whittled the lead to just 6 at 15-9 on a Steven Pratt lay-up for two of his 11 first half points.  

CSUDH answered, however, using a Ryan Walton triple and two Jamel Ward freebies to bring its lead back to double figures, eventually doubling the Seawolf output at 26-13 on a Jonathan Toliver trey and to 28-13 on a Cawthorne bucket before settling for a seven point lead at 35-28 heading into the break.

Toliver gave the Toros another double-figure lead after a 3-pointer opened the second half scoring, but the Seawolves, who were fighting for their CCAA Tournament lives, cut the CSUDH lead to eight on a Ben Washington bucket at the 8:40 mark, to four on a Kyle Shandera hoop at 4:54, and to just two on another Washington score with 3:28 left in regulation.

That's when the Toros turned it up a notch, going on an 8-0 run to again lead by 10 at 67-57, the final two points in the push put down by an emphatic Jerrell Smith flush, slamming the door on any thoughts of a Seawolf comeback.

"I'm proud of our guys," begins head coach Damaine Powell.  "We had a vision a while ago to get here (to the CCAA Championship), and I'm really happy for the guys.  The team really embraced the leadership of our seniors, and that's been the difference this year for us, the internal leadership.

"But we're not done yet," he continued.  "We're thinking about Humboldt tomorrow night.  Our guys really want to be conference champs outright, so that's our focus."

In addition to Cawthorne's monster night, which included a "Hail Mary" 3-pointer from about 35 feet after the Seawolves cut the lead to two late in the game, Toliver added 12 and Walton 11 as the Toros shot a sizzling 52.9% from the field in the win.

CSUDH, now 21-5, 15-4 CCAA, travels to Arcata tomorrow night to face the Lumberjacks, a surprise loser to Cal State L.A. earlier tonight.  The Toros' 21 wins marks the first time since the 1988-89 campaign they have reached this milestone, and are one win away from tying the 1986-87 squad for most wins in a single season.