Second Half Unkind to Toros in 73-58 Season-Opening Loss at Cal State L.A.

LOS ANGELES -- Host and cross-town rival Cal State L.A. outscored visiting Cal State Dominguez Hills 45 to 28 in a decisive second half that saw the Golden Eagles erase an 11-point deficit en route to a 73-58 win in the Toros' 2011-12 season opener. Senior Van Girard II led CSUDH with 15 points.

The loss snaps a three-game win streak for the Toros in the cross-town rivalry, who fall to 0-1, 0-1 CCAA.

The Toros started strong en route to a 30-28 first half lead, building their advantage to as much as 11 points at 24-13 on a Girard flush with 8:37 left in the first half.

The hosts, however, held the Toros to just 6 points the rest of the period while scoring 15 themselves to trail by just 30-28 entering the break.

After the half, Cal State L.A. took over, regaining the lead at 36-35 on a Leland Jones jumper at the 16:58 mark. With the score tied at 38-each, the hosts went on a 10-2 run over the next four minutes to seize control of the game, pushing it to 11 on a Chris Robinson triple and to 16 on a Ryan Wetherall 3-pointer with just 2:16 left on the clock, putting the proverbial icing on the Black and Gold victory cake in the eventual 73-58 final.

Cornell Jenkins added 14 points with Robert Willhite chipping in 12 and Myron Green 10 in the loss.

CSULA, meanwhile, was led by Quinton Watkins' 19 points and Wetherell's 18, with Jones and Carl Hoffman adding 13 each and Robinson 10 as the Golden Eagles shot a sizzling 62.1% after intermission to just 40.0% for the Toros, and took a 39 to 28 rebounding edge in the win.

CSUDH will take to the road for its next contest, traveling to the University of the Pacific for a 7:00 pm Monday night tip.

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