ARCATA – Going with a different look in the starting lineup, the Cal State Dominguez Hills men's basketball team started off hot but couldn't stay in front as Humboldt State rallied to sneak by the Toros 68-67 at Lumberjack Arena Saturday night.
 
The Toros have lost three straight and dipped to 7-7 overall and 5-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The Lumberjacks, winners of four straight, improve to 12-5 overall and 7-3 in the league. The two teams will meet again at the Torodome on February 21 on Think Pink Night.  
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Wonder Smith – 16 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds
Colten Kresl – 12 points, 3 rebounds, 4-for-8 3-pointers
Andrew Whitsett – 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks
 
WHAT HAPPENED?
- After seeing the starting 5 score 24 points each in the last two games, head coach Steve Becker went with a different look in the lineup. He left Smith and Alex Garcia in the lineup and inserted Whitsett, Kresl and David Howard. They got off to a promising start with a 12-0 run four minutes into the game. It enabled the Toros to lead by as many as 17 at the six-minute mark.
- Dominguez Hills started the second period leading 41-31 but disappeared at the halfway mark of the second period when Jack Kaub made a layup to tie the game at 49. Mikey Hatfield hit a jumper at 7:52 and that ended up being the final time the Toros had led in the game.
- Trailing by one, the Toros caught a huge break when Kaub turned the ball over with 14.7 seconds remaining. Wonder Smith went for the game-winning jumper but missed it at the buzzer.
- The loss was a tough one to swallow for the Toros after shooting 52 percent (25-for-48) on the night. They were 16-for-25 (64 percent) with five 3's in the first half but ended up 9-of-23 in field goals in the second period.
- Calvin Young and Justin Everett combined for 26 points for the Lumberjacks. Humboldt ended up shooting 42.6 percent (29-for-68) on the night.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
The Toros begin a three-game homestand with Cal Poly Pomona Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The Broncos head to Carson after dominating winless Cal State Monterey Bay in Pomona tonight.