Toros Take Battle of Boards in 67-55 Win Over UC San Diego

(PHOTO: MICHAEL FOO)

Box Score

CARSON, Calif. -- Cal State Dominguez Hills used a convincing 34-20 edge in rebounds this afternoon and a near perfect 11-of-12 performance from Robert Willhite at the free throw line to stay perfect in the 2010 calendar year with a 67-55 victory over visiting UC San Diego, improving to 2-7, 2-2 CCAA.

The Tritons, meanwhile, fall to 2-6, 1-4 CCAA after two defeats to two of their southern California counterparts, including a loss at Cal State L.A. yesterday.

Both teams started slow, with neither squad able to take more than a four-point lead with 10 minutes elapsed in the first half, until a Justin Brue jumper gave UCSD a 18-13 edge at the 9:03 mark. After the two teams exchanged buckets, the Toros outscored the Tritons 16-6 over the first half's final minutes to take a 31-27 lead entering the break, the final two courtesy of two Willhite freebies.

CSUDH stretched its lead to 34-27 on a Michael Cox jumper and one of two free throws by James Cawthorne at the 18:08 mark, before the visitors chipped away at their deficit, finally tying the game at 38-38 on a Jordan Lawley layup.

The Toros answered UCSD's run, taking another 7-point lead on a tip-in by Stephen Faulkner with just under seven minutes left in the game, pushing it to 11 at 39-48 on a Jamel Ward jumper with 3 minutes remaining.

UCSD used five quick points to trim the lead to just six, but clutch free throw shooting, including five by Willhite in the final 1:28, gave the Toros their second win in as many nights in the eventual 67-55 win.

Willhite finished with 16 points, while Cox chipped in 11 and 8 boards in his second game of the year. UCSD's Jordan Lawley led all scorers with 17 points, and was the lone Triton to reach the double-figure scoring mark.

The Toros, now 2-7, 2-2 CCAA, play the third of five games this week on Wednesday, as cross-town rival Cal State L.A. visits Carson for a 7:30 pm first tip in the Torodome.

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