Toro Basketball Squads Roll Into Conference Tournaments

The nationally-ranked CSUDH basketball teams closed out their regular seasons in style with matching wins against Cal State East Bay. Both teams now have their sights set on winning the CCAA tournament and building momentum heading into the NCAA Tournament.

In Carson, the No. 5 women's squad wrapped up the season in dominant fashion, crushing Cal State East Bay 94-56. The team finished with a 29-1 overall record (21-1 in CCAA play). With the win, the Toros completed one of the best regular seasons in program history and won their second CCAA regular-season title in three years.

The Toros, who lead the conference in both offense and defense statistics, showcased their dominance on both ends of the floor. CSUDH jumped out to an early lead, using their high-pressure defense to force turnovers and push the tempo in transition. By halftime, the Toros had built a commanding lead and never looked back.

With the win, the Toros solidified their spot as the CCAA regular-season champions and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming CCAA Tournament, hosted by Cal State San Marcos from March 6-8. The Toros have a first-round bye and will open play in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, up north in Hayward, the No. 19 Cal State Dominguez Hills men's team finished their regular season with a strong road win, defeating Cal State East Bay 84-75. The Toros improved to 23-5 overall and 20-2 in CCAA play.

They also secured the CCAA regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament. CSUDH secured back-to-back CCAA championships for the first time in program history, having shared the title last season with Cal State San Bernardino.

The game was tight at halftime, but the Toros took control in the second half, knocking down 7 of 13 three-pointers. Guard Jeremy Dent-Smith led the way with 30 points and 10 rebounds, and the Toros showed why they are the top rebounding team in the CCAA, outboarding the Pioneers 46-32.

The men now also now shift their focus to the CCAA Tournament, where they will have a first-round bye before opening play in the semifinals. CSUDH finished the regular season as the only university with both their men's and women's team ranked in the top twenty nationally, showcasing the growing strength of the program.