BOX SCORE Sonoma State 61, Cal State Dominguez Hills 53 -- Box Score
ROHNERT PARK -- Justin Herold went for 16 points and
David Ahern added 12 as the Sonoma State men's basketball earned back-to-back victories for the first time this season with an exciting 61-53 win over visiting Cal State Dominguez Hills in front of a packed den on Saturday in Rohnert Park. The Seawolves improve to 5-15 overall and 4-12 in the CCAA, while the Toros drop to 7-16 (4-12 CCAA).
Sonoma led from start to finish, scoring the game's first seven points. The defense didn't allow CSU Dominguez Hills to score until the 17:29 mark and the visitors couldn't cut their deficit to any less than three points until the Toros scored the first six points of the second half to trail by just one point at 34-33 at the 18:53 mark. From that point on, the Seawolves went on a 13-2 run over the next six minutes minutes and eventually led by as much as 15 points at 52-37 with 11:40 to go in the contest.
Slowly but surely, Cal State Dominguez Hills began chipping away and even pulled to within five points, but only 17 seconds remained and three
Mike Harris free throws in the waning moments sealed the Seawolves' second consecutive victory in as many nights.
The Seawolves held on despite being kept from making a field goal in the final 7:02 after a jumper by Herold gave Sonoma State a 54-43 lead -- the only points scored by SSU in those final minutes came from the free throw line, four by Ahern and three by Harris.
Jason Walter was the only other Seawolf in double figures, tallying 10, and
Steve Lackey recorded eight points and nine rebounds. Sonoma shot 42.6 percent from the floor on 20 for 47 shooting, and was 16 of 19 from the free throw line.
Everett Turner scored a game-high 17 points to lead Cal State Dominguez Hills as both Darnell Martin and Chris Carvin dropped in 11 points each. The Toros shot just 32.1 percent from the hardwood on 17 of 53, including a dismal 5 for 27 from beyond the three-point arc.
Sonoma State will ride its up streak into a battle with nationally-ranked Cal Poly Pomona at home in The Wolves' Den next Friday night (Feb. 14), which is scheduled for 7:30 pm.
