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Streaking Toros Aim for Regional Playoff Berth

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The Cal State Dominguez Hills men’s basketball team is assured of a California Collegiate Athletic Assn. postseason tournament berth, but in its final four games the Toros may determine just how much say they have in advancing to the Western regional next month.

Dominguez Hills (9-1, 17-6) knocked UC Riverside from its No. 1 national perch last week with a 72-67 overtime victory to gain a share of the CCAA lead. Dominguez Hills, which has won a school-record eight straight games, plays host to Cal State Los Angeles tonight and travels to Cal State Northridge on Saturday. Both games begin at 8:05.

A 20-win season would make it difficult for the Western regional selection committee to overlook the red-hot Toros, no matter the outcome of the CCAA tournament. Seventeenth-ranked Dominguez Hills is third in the nation in defense despite playing four overtime games, has won 12 of its last 13 and has knocked two teams from No. 1 berths this season: Riverside and Grand Canyon College of the NAIA.

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In addition, officials at Dominguez Hills have made a bid to play host to the Western regional, which will be played March 17-18. With the Toros in the tournament, larger crowds and profits would be guaranteed.

This week’s opponents won’t roll over, however.

In their first meeting, L.A. and Dominguez went into double overtime before the Toros prevailed, 55-52. Northridge lost at Dominguez, 56-51, but was without its leading player, Todd Bowser. L.A. (1-9, 3-9) is out of the playoff picture, but Northridge (5-5, 13-9) is in a three-way tie for fourth place, a game behind third-place Bakersfield.

Senior center Anthony Blackmon of Dominguez Hills was voted CCAA Player of the Week for the third time in five weeks for his efforts in three Dominguez Hills victories last week. The honors are expected to make him a runaway for the CCAA most valuable player award.

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