The CSUDH men’s basketball team got one step closer to finalizing a berth in the playoffs Thursday night, trouncing the visiting Humboldt State Lumberjacks, 82-61.
The win over the Lumberjacks, who were tied with the Toros at 10-8 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, puts them in sole possession of fifth place with three games remaining. A win Saturday over Chico State assures the team of its third straight CCAA postseason appearance.
The women’s prospects do not seem as bright. They entered Thursday’s game against Humboldt State in a three-way tie for eighth place, and the last playoff
The 76-66 loss doesn’t mean the Toros (8-11, 12-13 overall) don’t have breath left. Both San Francisco State and Sonoma State also lost, leaving all three teams still tied for eighth place.
None of the three teams play each other over the last three games of the regular season. Looking at remaining strength of schedule, the Toros do play second-place Cal Poly Pomona (16-3 in conference; 20-4 overall) on the road Feb. 28, but also get Chico State Saturday at home (9-10; 12-10) and finish on the road against a Stanislaus State team that is 6-13, and 7-16 overall.
Both San Francisco and Sonoma play Chico State, but also play two of the top four teams in the conference.
All the men, who were led Thursday by Colton Kresel’s 18 points and had four other players in double figures (David Howard and Alex Garcia with 13, Wonder Smith with 12, and Michael Chavers with 10) need to do is win Saturday at home against Chico State. Then again, the Wildcats beat the Toros by 20 in Chico, and are on a streaky team, dropping four straight after their win over CSUDH but then winning four straight contests, only to drop their last two.
Up next: The women’s basketball team plays Chico State Saturday at 5:30 p.m.; followed by the men’s game at 7:30 pm.
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