SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The No. 2 seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills men's basketball team survived a gritty battle, overcoming a halftime deficit to defeat No. 7 Northwest Nazarene 66-59 in the NCAA West Regional First Round at Golden Gym on Friday afternoon. With the win, the Toros improve to 26-5 overall and advance to the West Regional Semifinals.
The Toros got off to a slow start as Northwest Nazarene took control early, using a strong shooting performance to build a lead. Dominguez Hills struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 2-for-10 (20%) from three-point range in the first half. David Cheatom and Adam Afifi kept the Toros in the game with key buckets in the paint, while Jeremy Dent-Smith controlled the glass with nine first-half rebounds.
Despite the offensive struggles, the Toros' defense began to settle in late in the half, limiting Northwest Nazarene to just eight field goals in the final 10 minutes. Dominguez Hills went into halftime trailing 36-29, with work to do in the second half.
The Toros came out with renewed energy after the break, quickly cutting into the deficit with an 11-3 run sparked by Afifi and Cheatom. Dominguez Hills shot 50% (11-for-22) from the field in the second half, while Northwest Nazarene struggled, making just 26.7% (8-for-30) of their shots.
Cheatom was unstoppable down the stretch, finishing the game with a team-high 23 points, including a perfect 13-for-13 from the free-throw line. Afifi continued his dominance inside, recording a double-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks. Dent-Smith added 13 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Toros take control in the final minutes.
The Toros outscored the Nighthawks 37-23 in the second half, using their defensive intensity and dominance on the glass to close out the win.
Toros Stat Leaders
- David Cheatom: 23 PTS, 7 REB, 13-13 FT
- Adam Afifi: 18 PTS, 11 REB, 5 BLK
- Jeremy Dent-Smith: 13 PTS, 10 REB, 3 AST
- Alex Garcia: 6 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST
- Jordan Hilstock: 5 PTS, 3 REB, 3 STL
With the victory, the Toros advance to the NCAA West Regional Semifinals, where they will face their next opponent on Saturday, March 16, as they continue their pursuit of a West Regional Championship and a trip to the Elite Eight.
