Toros Unable To Hold Off Cal Poly Pomona in 60-52 Loss

Darnell Martin shared team-high honors with 13 points in tonight's tough loss

Box Score

CARSON -- Competing against perennial power Cal Poly Pomona usually brings out the best in an opponent, and tonight's contest was no exception as Cal State Dominguez Hills came out with a sense of urgency and held the lead midway through the second half, only to have the Broncos respond in the 60-52 come-from-behind win.

With the loss, the Toros fall to 5-12 and 2-8 CCAA, while CPP improves to 11-3, 9-1 CCAA.

Needing a boost after last night's blowout at the hands of Humboldt State, the Toros scored the game's first eight points after a bucket by Everett Turner, a triple by Steffon Neal and an old-fashioned 3-point play by DeShaun Freeman, only to have the Bronos claw their way back and cut their deficit to 10-8 after a pair of free throws by Jordan Finn, with a Finn triple giving CPP its first lead of the game at 14-13 with 10:45 let in the first half.

CSUDH regrouped behind Turner, Darnell Martin and Freeman, however, to take a 26-19 lead, with the last two points in the stretch by Turner coming on a Pierson Williams assist.

The Broncos would regain the lead at 31-30 on three-pointers and offensive boards, where it would stand entering the break, with Turner leading the Toros with 9 points.

Two triples by Williams gave the Toros a 36-31 lead to open the second-half scoring, with a reverse layup on the baseline by Martin off a sweet no-look pass by Chris Carvin pushed the lead up two more at the 16:53 mark, where it remained until a pair of Martin freebies made the score 40-31 at 13:36.

A 5-2 run by the Toros gave the hosts their biggest lead of the game thus far, capped by a made Freeman desperation 3-pointer as the shot clock was about to expire.

CSUDH used that momentum on its next possession as Martin slipped behind the Bronco defense and received a baseline feed from Everett before throwing down a two-handed rim-rattler for a 47-33 lead at the 9:47 mark.

CPP then went on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to bring the visitors to within striking distance at 47-43, until a Freeman bucket from Martin from the elbow provided a Cardinal and Gold respite.

A DeRonn Scott bucket, Finn three-pointer and Jordan Faison jumper accounted for seven quick Bronco points and a 52-49 CPP lead with 3:22 left, a run that was stopped with a successful Carvin drive to the hole.

Scott answered again for a 54-41 Bronco lead with 1:25 left, with one of two made free throws by Freeman cutting the lead to 54-52.

With the Toros forced to foul, CPP's Scott converted the 1-and-1 for a 56-52 lead, and a Toro double-dribble gave the ball back to the Broncos, all but putting the cap on the visitor's win after four more CPP makes at the foul line for the 60-52 final.

Freeman also finished with 13 points in the loss as the Toros finished shooting 40% from the floor, 41.7% from three, and 70% from the line.

Scott led all scorers with 18 points, with 16 coming after the break, and eight in the final 4:23 of play.

The Toros out-rebounded the Broncos by six, but posted eight more turnovers and seven less blocks in the loss.

CSUDH will look to break out of its skid on the road next weekend, starting with a Friday tilt at UC San Diego on January 24.

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Toros Unable To Hold Off Cal Poly Pomona in 60-52 Loss