Toros Fall to Riverside in Last Bid for Playoffs, 68-62

When the season began, no one really figured that Cal State Dominguez Hills, with three freshmen starters, would be battling for a playoff spot in its final game.

So it was an accomplishment for the 10-17 Toros to take the floor Saturday night, needing a victory and a little help up the road at Cal State Los Angeles to advance to post-season play in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn.

Dominguez Hills got the help it needed: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo defeated L.A., 86-68. But the Toros forgot to take care of things on their court, stumbling against senior-laden UC Riverside, 68-62.

The Toros finished 6-8 and in sixth place in the CCAA. Bakersfield, Riverside, San Luis Obispo and L.A. advance to the conference tournament next weekend in Bakersfield.

The Toros simply waited too long to make a run, and when they finally did, a questionable charging call against guard Robert Barksdale with 1:15 left nullified a basket that would have cut Riverside’s lead to five points.

Dominguez Hills took a 10-4 lead with 14:49 left in the first half, but from there it was all Riverside. In the next 11 minutes, the Highlanders outscored the Toros, 26-10.

Chris Ceballos, who had 20 points for the game, spurred the Riverside burst.

Perhaps the Toros had weak legs after Friday night’s physical 72-65 victory over Cal Poly Pomona.

Riverside opened a 46-35 lead with 14 minutes remaining, but Dominguez Hills, thanks to four free throws by freshman guard Raymond Bennett, cut it to 48-43 with 10:48.

Senior guard Reggie Howard put the game solidly in the Highlanders’ favor. With 9:45 to go he put Riverside up, 50-43 with a basket, then extended the lead to 10 points on a three-point basket at the 8:57 mark. A minute and a half later he dished off to guard Marcellus Smith for a lay-in and a 55-43 lead.