SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The No. 1 seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills men's basketball team secured its place in program history, defeating No. 2 Chico State 74-68 in the CCAA Tournament Championship on Saturday evening at The Sports Center. With the victory, the Toros improve to 25-5 overall and claim their first outright CCAA Tournament title since 2011 and second overall. The Toros have claimed the CCAA regular season championship and tournament championship for the first time since 1986-87.
The Toros came out aggressive on both ends, setting the tone with strong defense and efficient offensive execution. Jordan Hilstock got things started with a three-pointer, while Adam Afifi controlled the paint with early baskets and rebounding. David Cheatom provided an interior spark, adding key points in the paint.
Despite Chico State battling back, Dominguez Hills maintained a lead for most of the half, shooting 93.3% (14-for-15) from the free-throw line to keep control. At the break, the Toros led 38-31 after holding the Wildcats to just 40.7% shooting from the field and 25.8% from beyond the arc.
The Toros extended their lead early in the second half, with Afifi and Hilstock delivering clutch buckets. However, Chico State responded with a late push, cutting the deficit to just two points in the final minutes. With the game on the line, Hilstock stepped up at the free-throw line, going 10-for-11 from the stripe to ice the game.
Dominguez Hills shot 88.9% (24-for-27) from the free-throw line, while holding Chico State to just 25.8% shooting from three-point range.
Toros Stat Leaders
- Jordan Hilstock – 22 PTS, 6 REB, 4 3PT, 10-11 FT 🏆 Tournament MVP
- Adam Afifi – 16 PTS, 11 REB, 3 AST 🏆 All-Tournament Team
- David Cheatom – 15 PTS, 6 REB, 5-5 FT
- Alex Garcia – 6 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST
- Jeremy Dent-Smith – 5 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST
The Toros' championship win marks a historic moment for the program, securing their first CCAA Tournament title since 2011. Hilstock was named Tournament MVP after his 22-point performance, while Afifi earned All-Tournament Team honors, notching back-to-back double-doubles in the semifinals and finals.
With the CCAA Tournament title secured, Dominguez Hills now awaits its seeding in the NCAA West Regional Tournament, with the bracket set to be released on Sunday, March 9. The Toros will look to continue their championship run as they prepare for the postseason.
