Toros Get Even Against Panthers : Basketball: After losing to Chapman College on Friday, Cal State Dominguez Hills rallies for 53-48 victory on Saturday.

It is what Cal State Dominguez Hills basketball Coach Dave Yanai refers to as a “Tale of Two Cities.” Which Dominguez Hills team will show up on any given night, the heady defensive-minded Toros, or the team that forgets how to shoot?

That dilemma haunted the Toros again this weekend, as Dominguez Hills split a pair of crucial California Collegiate Athletic Assn. games against Chapman College.

Playing perhaps its worst first half of the season Friday night, the host Toros were beaten, 67-60. Dominguez Hills made only 21 of 55 field goal attempts (38%) in the game.

On Saturday night, despite 18 first-half turnovers, Dominguez Hills prevailed, 53-48, at Orange, thanks to a fine defensive effort in the second half. Even so, the Toros tried to dig a hole for themselves in the first 20 minutes, making only eight of 20 field-goal attempts. It was a sloppy first half for both teams. They combined for 29 turnovers.

“I don’t know why we are this way,” Yanai said. “If I did, we wouldn’t be this way.”

To make the CCAA postseason tournament, Chapman (12-10, 2-5) felt it had to win both games against the Toros. Dominguez Hills (14-8, 3-4) is still in the hunt for one of the four playoff spots, but it has two must-win games next weekend against visiting Cal State Los Angeles and at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

“‘I still think the race will come down to the final week,” Yanai said. “But finishing the first round 2-4 doesn’t help us.”

On Saturday night, much like it had the night before, Chapman jumped out to an early lead.

The Toros trailed, 30-25, to start the second half, but ran off 11 consecutive points and held a 38-34 lead with 13:47 remaining. Chapman tied the score, 40-40, on a basket by former San Pedro High and El Camino College standout Zlotko Josic with 9:35 left. But from that point the Toro defense stiffened and Chapman made only two more field goals.

Chapman led by as many as nine points in the first half, but the Panthers were their own worst enemy, committing 18 turnovers.

Dominguez Hills, which committed 11 turnovers, trailed, 20-17, when Chapman’s Andre Hill hit a three-point shot with 7:01 left in the half. It was the first three-point shot attempt in the two-game series for Chapman. Hill added a layup following a pair of free throws by the Toros’ Robert Barksdale, then Hill made another three-point basket with 4:23 left. A minute later, two free throws by Hill made the score, 27-18.

But Chapman got sloppy after that and in the final three minutes committed three turnovers. The Toros took advantage as Vince Washington made a free throw and Ray Bennett, Michael Moore and Washington added layups to cut Chapman’s lead to two.

In the women’s game, Dominguez Hills (14-7, 1-4) was virtually eliminated from CCAA playoff contention when Chapman (9-12, 1-4) outran the Lady Toros, 73-49. Freshman Karee Bonde led the Lady Toros with 11 points. Dionne Vanlandingham added 10.