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Men's Basketball

Toros End Frustration in 82-80 Overtime Thriller Over Otters

Box Score

CARSON -- Junior Darnell Martin put up a team-best 20 points as Cal State Dominguez Hills held off a hard-charging Cal State Monterey Bay squad in a thrilling 82-80 overtime win that snapped a seven-game skid.

With the win, its first since January 3, CSUDH moves to 6-14, 3-10 CCAA, while the Otters fall to 6-10, 4-9 CCAA.

The Otters started strong in taking a 7-2 lead, increasing it to 12-6 on a couple of triples in the early going.

With CSUMB up 22-15 at the 10:38 mark, both teams endured a scoreless stretch that lasted until Givon Crump connected on a pair of free throws at the 8:14 mark, which was followed by a DeShaun Freeman bucket on their next possession to cut the Otter lead to 22-19 with just over 7 minutes left in the first half.

Another missed Otter possession set the table for Steffon Neal, who drained a triple from the corner to tie the game at 22.

A Chris Carvin foul shot gave CSUDH its first lead of the game under the 5:00 mark, with a Darnell Martin put-back giving the Toros a 3-point edge at 25-22 before a late bucket to close the half gave CSUMB a 33-31 lead entering the break.

A Pierson Williams triple to open the second session followed by a Freeman bucket gave CSUDH a 36-33 lead until a backdoor cut on an inbounds pass by CSUMB made it a one-point game in favor of the hosts.

CSUDH gained momentum after Martin streaked down the lane and received a Freeman assist for a one-handed dunk, after which he snuck behind the Otter defense for a reverse layup to give the Toros a 40-37 edge with just under 5 minutes elapsed in the second half.

Consecutive threes, however, pushed the Otters to a 47-45 lead with 11:46 left in regulation until a 6-2 Toro spurt swung momentum back to the Cardinal and Gold.

CSUDH was clinging to a 65-63 lead with just over a mintue left when Neal let one fly from well beyond the 3-point line, hitting nothing but net for a 68-63 lead with 54.6 ticks left on the clock.

After Monterey answered with a three of its own, Neal was fouled on a 3-point try with 25.6 left in regulation, giving him a chance to re-up the lead to five.

Neal converted on two of the three, only to have Otter Greg Robinson make a layup, get fouled and convert the 3-point play to make ot 70-69.

CSUMB then intercepted the Toro inbound pass with 13 ticks left, setting up the fantastic finish.

Otter Ryan Nitz was fouled with both teams in the bonus and converted the first attempt to tie the game, prompting the final Toro time out of regulation.

After Nitz missed on his attempt, a last second attempt by Neal was short, sending the game into overtime.

In the extra frame, Carvin began the scoring with a 3-point shot that banked in, but consecutive Otter buckets gave CSUMB the lead, one that was erased by one Neal free throw to tie the game at 75-75.

After an Otter bucket, a triple by Crump in the corner gave CSUDH a 78-77 lead, and after an Otter miss and Toro rebound, CSUMB was forced to foul.

Crump made them pay with two free throw makes, and an ensuing CSUMB miss and foul sent Everett Turner to the line, where the true freshman calmly drained both free throws.

Nitz answered with a three to bring the score to 82-80 with 5.2 left in overtime, and a Toro turnover on the inbounds pass gave the Otters one last chance with 4.4 to go.

The Otters had one last chance as Nitz found himself open in the corner, but his 3-point try went short, putting an exciting end to tonight's fantastic finish.

The win was especially special for former CS Monterey Bay men's basketball player and current CSUDH Interim Head Coach Steve Becker, who picked up his first W in his third game as head coach.

"I was really proud of the way the guys battled tonight," said Becker.  "Though it was good to see my old coach, our team showed a great deal of heart tonight.  I'm really happy for our guys in tonight's win and we look forward to working hard and competing tomorrow against East Bay."

Martin made 9-of-12 shots from the field while Moriba DeFreitas went for 15 and Neal for 11 in the thriller.

CSUDH will look to make it two-straight tomorrow night against Cal State East Bay, with first tip set for 7:30 pm in the Torodome.  At halftime, local heroes from the Carson area will be recognized in CSUDH's celebration of heroes.  The game also will be stream live on the Toro Sports Network.

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