Senior Hunter Seymour is honored with his family pregame before Homecoming vs CSULA. Credit: Jena Rouser, CSUDH Athletics
By Raymond Castillo Sports Editor
The California State University, Dominguez Hills men’s basketball team is miraculously still alive after going 3-1 over their last four games played. The Toros traveled to Northern California and beat two exceptional playoff contending teams in Sonoma State University by 11 (72-61) and California Polytechnic University, Humboldt in an overtime thriller, (89-84). Although shorthanded, newly crowned California Collegiate Athletic Association Player Of The Week DJ Guest carried the load averaging 24 points and 8.5 rebounds in those two games. The Toros returned home to a packed crowd on ASI night last Thursday but ultimately fell short to second seeded California State University, San Marcos.
With their season on the line, a loss in any of the remaining games would officially knock the Toros out of contention for a bid to play in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament in Turlock, California at the end of the season.
With those stipulations, Toro men’s basketball head coach Steve Becker had his young team fired up and ready to go on the always eventful Senior Day and Homecoming at the Torodome. The Toros jumped out to an early double-digit lead over the Golden Eagles of California State University, Los Angeles behind Jordan Hilstock’s 3-pointer.
The Golden Eagles refused to lay down as they themselves are fighting for the final playoff spot in the CCAA Tournament as well. CSULA took a 17-16 lead in the first half and were only able to hold it for a little while as the Toros kept scratching and clawing to stay alive.
The two teams battled all half, but Freshman Guard, Jeremy Dent-Smith, cut the Golden Eagle lead to three at halftime, and swung the momentum back to the home team’s side.
Coming out of the half, the Toros and Golden Eagles traded punches back and forth like a heavyweight fight. Tied at 54 with 5:44 left in the game, lone Toro senior and Senior Forward, Hunter Seymour, was fouled and proceeded to hit two free-throws to break the tie and give the Toros a two point lead. A turnover by the Golden Eagles following the free throws gave way to a Seymour field goal that gave the Toros a four-point lead that they never surrendered for the rest of the game.
CSULA cut the lead to one late in the game, but the Toros never flinched and ended up victorious in the contest, 68-61. Dent-Smith led the Toros in scoring with a career-high 23 points, and Seymour played magnificently, adding eight points, seven rebounds, two blocks, and one assist.
The Toros have moved out of the cellar in the CCAA and remain alive for the playoffs. Steve Becker and his squad will return to Northern California for the last two games of the season and hope to replicate their success from the last road trip.
They will need to win their games at San Francisco State University and California State University, Monterey Bay while also getting help in the form of losses of all their remaining games from CSLA, CSU Monterey Bay, California State University, East Bay, Chico State, and California Polytechnic University, Pomona.
A lot has to go right for the Toros to make the playoffs, but they are only worried about what they can control; effort and focus. The rest will be left up to the basketball Gods.
