TURLOCK, Calif. — The No. 17 Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros showcased their resilience in a hard-fought 73-70 road win over Stanislaus State on Thursday night at Fitzpatrick Arena. The victory extends the Toros' dominance in CCAA play as they improve to 19-4 overall and 16-1 in conference action. Toros also made a significant jump in the national rankings this week, climbing from No. 23 to No. 17, while holding the No. 1 spot in the West Region poll.Dominguez Hills remains one of the most well-rounded teams in the CCAA, ranking in the top three in both offense and defense while leading the conference in scoring margin.
The first half was a back-and-forth battle, featuring nine ties and 13 lead changes. The Toros leaned on their defensive identity, forcing difficult shots while controlling the tempo. Jeremy Dent-Smith got off to a strong start, knocking down two three-pointers and finishing the half with 10 points. Adam Afifi, who ranks third in the CCAA in rebounding and field goal percentage, controlled the paint early, scoring seven points and grabbing two boards. Despite shooting 37.9% from the field in the first half, Dominguez Hills entered the break with a slim 29-25 lead, thanks to key defensive stops and an 83.3% free-throw shooting effort.
The second half saw an offensive surge from both teams, with the Toros shooting 46.2% from the field and connecting on five three-pointers. Dent-Smith continued to lead the way, finishing with a game-high 23 points while going 4-of-7 from beyond the arc and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. Afifi contributed 11 points and was crucial down the stretch, while Alex Garcia added eight points and three rebounds. The Toros saw strong performances from their bench as JT Tan delivered 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting, and DJ Guest chipped in seven points.
The final minutes were nothing short of chaotic. With just over a minute remaining, the Toros held a three-point lead when Afifi drained a clutch three-pointer to extend the advantage. However, Stanislaus State responded immediately with a deep three of their own to cut the lead back to one. In the closing seconds, Dent-Smith, the reigning CCAA Player of the Week, came up big once again, hitting four consecutive free throws to seal the win. Garcia was also key in the final moments, knocking down two free throws with 11 seconds left to maintain a three-point cushion. The Warriors had one last attempt to tie the game, but their three-point attempt bounced off the rim, allowing the Toros to escape with the win.
Dent-Smith finished with 23 points, five rebounds, and two steals, continuing his stellar season as the conference's top guard. Afifi contributed 11 points, two rebounds, and two assists while anchoring the paint. Garcia added eight points and two assists, while Tan provided 12 points off the bench. Jordan Hilstock was a defensive force, finishing with seven points, five rebounds, and four assists.
The Toros will stay on the road and head to Seaside, California, to take on Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 3 p.m. as they look to extend their dominant season.
