Toros End Skid in 53-51 Squeaker Over CS East Bay

Box Score

HAYWARD -- It wasn't pretty, but after a season-low 4-game losing streak, head coach Damaine Powell and his Toros will take it. Shooting just 34.1% from the field, Givon Crump made 14-of-17 free throws to lead Cal State Dominguez Hills to a 53-51 win over host Cal State East Bay to climb to .500 at 11-11 overall, and move up to 7-8 CCAA.

The Pioneers, meanwhile, fall to 5-14, 4-11.

Against the league's cellar-dwellers, the Toros ran out to a double-figure lead at 15-5 on a Crump free throw that followed a bucket and a foul with 11:22 left in the first half, only to see the hosts get to within one at 21-20 on their own old-fashioned 3-point play with 2:56 left before a Matt Cain jumper and foul shot by Ramon Williams gave CSUDH a 26-21 lead entering the break.

After intermission, the Pios kept the game close, tying the contest at 35-35 with 10:17 left in the game, and then taking a 37-36 lead two minutes later.

CSUDH was unable to shake CSUEB's will, as the two teams exchanged leads until 2:47 left in the game when the Toros took the lead for good on an Alex Strauther triple.

The Pioneers made one final run, but clutch free throw shooting by none other than Crump sealed the deal for the Toros, giving them their first win since January 19.

Cain added 8 in the win, with Straughter and DeShaun Freeman chipping in 7 apiece. The Toros were crushed on the boards (48-27), but made up for it with 8 less turnovers and a huge edge at the foul line, out-scoring the hosts by 10.

The Toros will look to make it two in a row tomorrow night at CS Monterey Bay, which handed the Toros a 3-point loss earlier this season.

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