Hot Toro Shooting Dooms Gators in 77-66 Win

(PHOTO: MICHAEL FOO)

Box Score

CARSON, Calif. -- Two nights after shooting just 40.0% from the field and 26.1% in the first half, Cal State Dominguez Hills blistered the nets to kick off its CCAA homestand against visiting San Francisco State, and the net result of the team's 55.8% shooting was a 77-66 win over the Gators, bringing CSUDH to 3-8, 3-3 CCAA. Tim McGrath led the Toros with 17 points in the victory.

It was a nip and tuck first half, with neither team able to get away from the other. Despite shooting 57.1% for the period, the Toros entered the locker room with a slim 36-35 cushion, led by Robert Willhite's 8 points, including 2-of-3 from long range, as SFSU nearly matched CSUDH's acumen with its 52.2% field goal success, led by Tim Pratt's 8 points.

After the two teams tied for the eighth time at 39-all at the 17:24 mark, the Toros took charge of the game, using jumpers by Jamel Ward and Michael Cox to take the lead, which they would keep the rest of the game.

A Derek Fletcher but the Toro lead to just two at 43-41 two minutes later, but CSUDH went on a 23-15 run over the next 13 minutes to take its first double-figure lead of the game, running out to a 66-56 lead with just 2:38 left in regulation.

SFSU, which fell to 10-4, 3-3 CCAA, had one last run in it after a Jeremy Francis triple cut the lead to seven, but clutch free throw shooting sealed the Gators' fate in the Toro 11-point win.

In addition to McGrath's game-high honors, Willhite added 14 points and 4 rebounds in the win, with Tim McLaurin chipping in 9 points and 3 boards.

Nefi Perdomo tied McGrath with 17 points to lead SFSU, with Marquel Hoskins added 13 and Pratt adding 12 in the loss.

CSUDH's second half defense was the key as it limited the Gators to just 38.5% shooting after the break.

The Toros, now 3-8, 3-3 CCAA, welcome Cal State Monterey Bay to Carson tomorrow night, with tipoff set for approximately 7:35 pm, after the "Dave Yanai Court" unveiling ceremony set to begin at 7:00 pm.

Print Friendly Version