LA JOLLA –
Colten Kresl scored a season-high 27 points, but too many costly team turnovers hurt the Cal State Dominguez Hills in the Toros 88-73 loss to No. 4 UC San Diego in the two teams final regular-season meeting at RIMAC Arena Thursday night.
Despite the loss, Dominguez Hills (10-13, 6-11 CCAA) received outside help with Cal State San Marcos beating Cal State LA down the road from La Jolla, keeping the Toros, Golden Eagles and Cal State Monterey Bay in a three-way tie for the eighth and final spot to the CCAA Tournament next month with five games to go. Monterey Bay was idle tonight and will face its travel partner Cal State East Bay Saturday.
Wonder Smith added 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while
Kaden Bradley had nine points and seven boards.
Dominguez Hills did edge UC San Diego (23-1, 17-1 CCAA) in the rebounding column 34-32.
Both sides made 45 percent of their shots in the game, but the Tritons went 15-of-34 from beyond the arc. Christian Oshita had 22 points for the Tritons while Marek Sullivan had a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
The Toros had to dig themselves out of a 12-point hole early in the game, using a 14-point run along the way to help them take a 27-26 lead with 5:10 left. Dominguez Hills led for the remainder of the half up until the end, when Tyrell Roberts connected a 3-point basket at the buzzer to give the Tritons a 38-36 lead at the break.
Trailing 38-36 at the half, the Toros kept pace with the Tritons early in the second period until a 10-2 run gave UC San Diego an 85-66 lead with 2:46 left.
Dominguez Hills played clean basketball during the first half but would eventually commit 13 of its 17 total turnovers in the second half. UC San Diego scored 23 points off those mistakes.
It is the final time, at least in the regular season, that the Tritons and Toros will meet as NCAA Division II foes. UC San Diego will move into Division I and the Big West Conference this fall.
The Toros remain in San Diego County to play Cal State San Marcos Saturday for a 3 p.m. opening tip.
