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Toros Shoot Long, Defend Tough, Coast Over Pomona, 73-51

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Tiimes Staff Writer

You know things are going bad for a basketball team when the ball it selects for a game in its home gym is rejected by the officials before the opening tip-off.

Such was the case Saturday night at Cal Poly Pomona where Cal State Dominguez Hills got a rare breather, tied a team record for most 3-point shots made, and coasted to a 73-51 California Collegiate Athletic Conference win before only 491 spectators.

Anthony Blackmon led the Toros with 18 points, although he slightly twisted an ankle 1:20 into the game. It didn’t seem to bother the senior on the boards, where he led both teams with 10 rebounds, or in assists, where he tied his career best with 7.

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About the only thing Pomona could do more of than the Toros was free-throw shooting. The Broncos went to the line 25 times, Dominguez Hills 5.

Still, this one was over long before referee Bill White asked for the new ball. Pomona fell to 0-3 in the conference and 6-9 overall.

Dominguez Hills on the other hand, is playing the best basketball it has exhibited in the past two seasons. The win improved the Toros’ overall record to 10-6.

“I don’t know if you can call this a breather,” said Dominguez Hills Coach Dave Yanai. “Pomona has been decimated with injuries. . . . Pomona played hard. They can be very proud.”

Pomona Coach Dave Bollwinkel agreed: “We’re tying to do things with mirrors out there. . . . I’m proud of our kids. They played hard.”

Dominguez Hills used nine 3-pointers en route to its fifth win in the last six games. The only loss was a 1-point defeat to second-ranked UC Riverside last Thursday night, a game that Riverside Coach John Masi said his team was fortunate to have won.

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In that game Dominguez Hills held Riverside, averaging 96 points a game, to 59, so it figured that Saturday night the Toros could improve upon their league-leading defensive posture. For the season Dominguez Hills has held its opponents to less than 63 points a game, less than 60 in each of the past three games.

The Toros’ defensive superiority was never so obvious this year than against the depleted Broncos. In the first half Dominguez Hills allowed Pomona just six field goals. Half of those came in the final five minutes.

Dominguez Hills led after the first 20 minutes, 44-22, thanks in part to six 3-point field goals.

Segario Bozart had 16 points, Bryan Dell’Amico 12, and Barksdale 10 for Dominguez Hills.

Guard Nate Macon led all scorers with 20 points and center Jim Skinner had 11.

Cal Poly Pomona 83, Dominguez Hills 51--The fourth-ranked Lady Broncos toyed with the Lady Toros while improving their CCAA record to 3-0 and overall record to 14-4. Dominguez Hills is 5-9.

“(Pomona Coach) Darlene May was very nice to us,” said Dominguez Hills Coach Van Girard. “It could have been a lot worse.”

All 10 players scored for the Lady Broncos, who coasted to a 47-23 lead after the first 20 minutes. Guard Devon Akita led Dominguez Hills with 12 points but was just 4 of 9 from the field. Center Brigitte Frazier scored 11. Guard Khyra Anderson had 14 rebounds.

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