CHICO, Calif. — The Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros showcased their dominance on the road with a tough 79-58 win over Chico State in a pivotal CCAA matchup on Thursday night at Art Acker Gym. Both teams came into the game tied for first place in the CCAA, the win improved the Toros to 14-3 and 11-0 overall, while the Wildcats dropped to 14-3 overall and 10-1 in the CCAA, snapping their strong home winning streak.

The first half featured a physical and defensive battle, with the Toros controlling the pace. Dominguez Hills held Chico State to just 28.6% shooting from the field and forced 10 turnovers in the opening period. Despite some early struggles offensively, Adam Afifi provided key baskets, scoring eight of his 16 points in the half. DJ Guest added six points and five rebounds to help the Toros build a 29-22 lead at halftime.

The second half was a different story as the Toros found their offensive rhythm, outscoring the Wildcats 50-36. Dominguez Hills shot a blistering 61.3% from the field in the second half, fueled by Afifi's dominance in the paint and a balanced attack from the supporting cast. Guest continued his strong play, finishing at the rim and cleaning the boards. Alex Garcia added energy off the bench, while CCAA Player of the week Jeremy Dent-Smith controlled the game late, hitting five free throws to help the Toros pull away for the decisive victory.

The game held extra significance for Toro forward Adam Afifi, who faced his former team for the first time since transferring from Chico State. Afifi delivered a standout performance against the Wildcats, led the Toros with a near double-double, scoring 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting while grabbing nine rebounds.

Guest was a force on both ends, adding 10 points, eight rebounds, and two assists. Garcia chipped in nine points, three rebounds, and three assists, while David Cheatom contributed eight points and three rebounds off the bench. Dent-Smith rounded out the attack with seven points, and Jordan Hilstock anchored the defense with nine rebounds and four steals.

The Toros' defensive pressure proved critical, forcing 16 turnovers and holding Chico State to just 37.5% shooting for the game. Dominguez Hills dominated on the boards with a 45-30 rebounding advantage and controlled the paint, outscoring the Wildcats 38-20 inside.

The Toros remain on the road as they travel to Arcata to take on Cal Poly Humboldt in another CCAA matchup on Saturday, January 25, at 3:00 p.m.