Box Score CARSON -- Down 76-73 with just 44 seconds left, Cal State Dominguez Hills had four separate attempts to tie the game from behind the 3-point line go awry as visiting Concordia University survived a frenetic comeback attempt by the Toros during a matinee contest Wednesday afternoon in the Torodome.
Sophomore
Andre Ball tallied a team-high 17 points in the loss, but could only watch as his final attempt of the evening missed its target as the buzzer sounded, dropping the Toros to 2-3 on the year.
Ball's 17 lead three CSUDH players in double figure scoring, but not even
Colten Kresl's 16 and
Chris Seeley's 15 could overcome a game-high 29 points by Eagle Wayne Arnold, who was followed by three teammates who also reached double figures in scoring.
The hosts were inhospitable at the outset, scoring the game's first nine points. CSUDH stretch its lead to 13-2 after a Seeley bucket but Arnold hit a 3-pointer to spur a 5-0 run, with the Eagles finally taking the lead at 22-21 at the 6:36 mark of the first half.
A Kresl jumper gave the lead back to the Toros, only to see the visitors close the half on an 18-8 run to take a 40-31 lead into the break.
The Toros quickly trimmed their lead after intermission, using a Seeley jumper to cut CUI's lead to just 43-39 with 2:15 elapsed in the period. CSUDH cut its deficit to just two on three occasions over the next three minutes, only to see the Eagles regain a 9-point lead with 13:29 left in regulation.
CSUDH would regain its stroke, getting to within 74-73 on a Ball flush with 1:51 on the clock. After a pair of free throws by the Eagles put them up by three, Kresl, Seeley (twice) and Ball all had chances to tie the game, but none of their shots connected as CUI escaped with the narrow win.
The Toros shot a blistering .474 from the floor and .824 from the foul line, but seven more turnovers, two less steals and blocks proved instrumental in the loss.
CSUDH doesn't get much time to regroup before beginning CCAA play, traveling to take on Cal State East Bay on Saturday.
