Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Cal State Dominguez Hills Athletics

Upcoming Events & Results

Composite Calendar
FloSports

Men's Basketball

Chico State Ends Toros' Season After 52-45 Final in 1st Round of CCAA Tournament

Van Girard II and his Toro teammates saw their season come to an end tonight after a 52-45 loss at Chico State

CHICO -- Eighth-seed and defending CCAA Tournament Champion Cal State Dominguez Hills boasted four players in double-figure scoring compared to just one by top-seeded and host Chico State, but the Toros missed all 14 of their 3-point atempts as CSUC took a 52-45 win in the first round of the CCAA Championship Tournament.

With the loss, CSUDH's fourth-straight and eighth in its last nine games, the Toros' season comes to an end at 12-13, while the Wildcats move to Friday's semifinals with a 23-6 record.

This also marks the third time in the past three years the two teams have met in the first round of the CCAA postseason, with the Wildcats advancing twice.

"The stats were pretty even, but they made more plays than us," said CSUDH head coach Damaine Powell, as a matter-of-fact.

"The 3-pointers made the difference.  We took good shots, but it was just one of those nights."

The visitors took an early 8-5 lead on a Girard layup, before the hosts ran off a 21-9 run to sieze momentum with a 26-16 cushion at the 3:58 mark, the last points coming on a Jordan Barton bucket en route to a 28-22 halftime lead.

CSUDH regrouped after the break to take a 36-32 edge on a Rashad Bias goal with just under 12 minutes left in regulation, before a Jordan Semple triple three minutes later gave Chico State the lead for good.

Chico State's lead grew to as much as 11 to match its largest first-half lead, and clutch free throws down the stretch sealed the Wildcats' first postseason home win since 1994.

Van Girard II led all scorers with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor, also tying for team-high honors with 8 boards, while Robert Willhite, Wayne Andrews and Sheldon Allen each contributed 10 points in the loss.

Ironically, just one Wildcat in Amir Carraway scored in double-figures, finishing with 11 in the win.

As a team, the Toros shot 37% compared to 34.6% for CSUC, while out-rebounding the Wildcats 33 to 30.

Despite the loss, Powell remained upbeat when reflecting on this team's efffort throughout the year.

"This team had the best leadership we have ever had, and the seniors kept the team together the whole year," he begins.

"Robert Willhite is the best recruit I have ever had, along with Cornell Jenkins," Powell continues.  "Brian Gee didn't get a lot of minutes but he was a great leader who was well respected.

"Van is a great kid and developed into a legitimate D2 player, and is the most unselfish player I've ever coached," while "Rashad Bias was a great leader who never complained even though he wasn't able to play for most of the year.

"And Wayne Andrews, he won 3 or 4 games by himself," Powell concludes about his one-year player.  "We'd be nowhere without him."

Print Friendly Version