NORTHRIDGE – Armed with size and athleticism, the 2019-20 version of the Cal State Dominguez Hills men's basketball team had no problem getting the rebounds against an NCAA Division I school. It showed Monday night when the Toros best CSUN on the glass by 41-33 in an 81-70 exhibition loss at the Matadome Monday night.
 
Reigning All-CCAA honorable mention Wonder Smith led the way with 18 points and missed one rebound to complete a double-double. Junior transfer Armstrong Ojunkwu had a dozen points and Colten Kresl, coming off a sophomore season in which landed him first-team All-CCAA, had 10.
 
The Toros went on to shoot 38.6 percent from the field while hitting 33 percent from 3-point range.
 
Darius Brown II led the way for CSUN with 19 points and Elijah Harkless had 15 points and seven boards.
 
The Toros got off to a hot start by establishing a 12-3 lead within the first four minutes into the game. Kresl and Smith each had five points during that run. The Matadors would find their groove and work their way to tie the game at 16 with 13 minutes left in the half.
 
CSUN would score eight points within the final three minutes of the half to take a 44-30 lead into the break.
 
Dominguez Hills had trailed by as many as 19 points near the eight-minute mark. It would trim that lead down to 72-66 with 2:29 when Brandon Jackson connected an open 3-point shot at the left corner pocket.
 
The Toros face another Big West school in Cal State Fullerton in the final exhibition before the season starts Thursday at 6 p.m.