CARSON – The Cal State Dominguez Hills men's basketball team continues to be the hottest team in the California Collegiate Athletic Association as the Toros knocked out San Francisco State 86-76 at the Torodome Thursday for their fifth consecutive win.
 
The Toros improve to 7-4 overall but more importantly 5-1 in the conference. The Gators, meanwhile, fall to 8-5 overall and 4-4 in league play. The two teams will see each other again in the City by the Bay on February 2.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Wonder Smith – 21 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists (all season highs)
Colten Kresl – 18 points, 4-for-4 free throws, 4 3-pointers made
David Howard – 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 4-for-4 free throws
 
WHAT HAPPENED?
- SF State had control at the start of the game, building a 21-13 lead halfway through the first period. Smith connected a 3-pointer at the 7:49 mark to cap a 13-5 Toro run to tie the game at 26 points apiece. The Toros would take the lead a minute after on a Howard layup and never looked back.
- Dominguez Hills established a game-high 13-point (68-55) lead when Kresl hit a 3-point basket at 7:51.
- The Toros ended the night shooting 46.2 percent (30-for-65) from the field. The Gators were not that far behind them at 43.5 percent (27-for-62).
- Rebounding was one of the factors in the game. The Toros dominated the glass 41-29 even though no one reached double figures. Michael Chavers led the pack with eight followed by Alex Garcia with seven.
- Jiday Ugbaja led the effort for the Gators by scoring 16 points off the bench. Among the starters, Zane Paddon had 15.


 
POSTGAME NOTES
- The five-game win streak is the longest since the 2011-12 season. The Toros longest streak between that had been four on multiple occasions.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
The Toros will face the biggest test Saturday when first-place and 14^th-ranked UC San Diego comes to Carson to conclude the four-game homestand. Tipoff is at 3 p.m. The Tritons were handed their first conference loss on the road Cal State LA tonight.