By Carlos Alvarez
In a game of runs the UC San Diego men’s basketball team finished the game on a 9-4 run, defeating the Cal State Dominguez Hills men’s basketball team, 82-70 on Feb. 9 at the Torodome in Carson, CA.
Trailing 73-53 with 5:09 left in the game the Toros mounted their comeback going on a 13-0 run to cut the Tritons lead to seven, 73-66.
That will be the closest CSUDH will get as UC San Diego sophomore center Chris Hansen scored five straight points to seal the victory for the Tritons.
Hansen shot an efficient 7-for-9 from the field for 15 points scoring inside the paint with ease. Triton senior guard Adam Klie was the general on the floor, scoring 12 points to go along with seven assists and six rebounds.
The Toros were led by junior guard Dharion Tanner who had a game-high 19 points, shooting an efficient 6-for-8 from the field. Senior center Justin Sadler added 16 points and junior guard Deondre Otis had 10.
Early on it look like the game will be decided on a last minute play the same way Hansen sealed the Tritons 78-75 victory on Dec. 19 at La Jolla. Both teams played at an up tempo pace trading baskets with UC San Diego holding a slim three-point lead, 29-26 with 6:07 remaining in the first half.
Offensively CSUDH shot the ball well from the field (47.5 percent), but defensively they struggled defending the perimeter, particularly the three-point line allowing UC San Diego to shoot a scorching 56.3 percent from beyond the arc (9-for-16).
With the loss CSUDH overall record moves to 11-10, 7-8 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. UC San Diego moves to 18-5, 13-3 in CCAA play moving closer to capturing the conference championship and sealing a number one seed in the conference playoffs.
CSUDH will close out their home schedule on Saturday against the visiting Cal State University San Bernardino on Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
