Dominguez Hills Overcomes Sloppy Performance to Defeat Puget Sound

Only two games into the season it may be too early to talk about low points for the men’s basketball team at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

But if you did, Saturday night’s spotty performance against the visiting University of Puget Sound will probably rank right up there with the worst when the highlight films are made.

And yet, the Toros came from behind to win, 69-67.

Dominguez Hills leveled its record at 1-1, but you won’t hear many of its players bragging about this one.

It was a frustrating performance for both teams, most notably for Puget Sound, which led most of the game, sometimes by as many as 11 points. Neither team seemed in sync with their offenses, and turnovers and jump balls came about as fast as bodies hitting the floor.

This one, which demonstrated a variety of sandlot shots, had playground written all over it.

Perhaps Thursday’s turkey hadn’t settled in their stomachs yet, because both teams played most of the time like they had indigestion.

Yet Dominguez Hills Coach David Yanai felt that his team got its just desserts.

“The kids played hard,” he said. “I don’t want to take anything away from the team.”

To their credit, the Toros never quit and when the pressure was on, they responded. Dominguez Hills hit all 12 free throws it attempted in the second half, and guard Leonard Eaton, used sparingly in the season opener on Wednesday, saved the game in the second half with a pair of three-point shots. He scored all of his 15 points in the second half.

Yanai contended that the Toros accomplished their pregame goals, most importantly applying defensive pressure and pushing the ball up the court to wear down the taller Loggers.

“I think that took its toll,” he said. “In the end I think they (Puget Sound) ran out of energy and it affected their shots.”