Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- All good things must come to an end. Tonight, Biola Men's Basketball's "good thing," its season-opening winning streak, came to a skidding halt with a 59-51 loss against CSU Dominguez Hills.
The Toros opened the game on fire from the floor, running up and down the court with a fast-paced, wide open offense that a tired Eagles' defense, playing its third game in as many days, could not find an answer for.
CSUDH shot over 60 percent from the floor through most of the first half and was absolutely money from beyond the arc as it built as much as a 15-point lead early on.
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Conversely, Biola could not find the net and could not bring in its misses early in the game, looking sluggish and unfocused. The Eagles shot in the low-20 percent range through the majority of the first 20 minutes with very poor inside offense.
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The Eagles' big men combined for just three made baskets in the first period of play. Biola was also outrebounded 21-14 in the first half and got stopped in its tracks by three Toros blocks.
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The second half was a different story, especially late, as Biola made some effective substitutions and CSUDH lost its touch from range and failed to convert a bunch of free throws.
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The Toros built up to a 20-point lead within the first few minutes of the second half before hitting their cold spell. After having four players with at least nine points in the first half, going into the locker room with a 36-23 lead, the Toros' highest scorer in the second half had just five points.
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The Eagles took advantage of this change in fate for CSUDH, going on a 17-2 run over a five-minute stretch to bring the game within five with just under two minutes to play.
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Steele Douglas and
Jola Otubu made big plays to start the run and
Dakari Archer took over to extend it, helping Biola get back in the game and wake up Chase Gymnasium.
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Archer used his trademark ability to drive the basket and draw fouls to help scratch away at the Toros lead late. His only flaw was one that again plagued the entire Eagles' roster, an inability to make free throws consistently. The sophomore guard was 5-9 from the charity stripe, but just 2-5 in the second half.
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Even with his efforts and the Toros inability to make their own free throws, 9-18 in the second half, five points was as close as the previously undefeated Biola team would get in this one.
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Archer led the team in scoring for the second-straight game, ending with 21. His 11 second-half points were more than any other Eagle contributed on a night where Biola was a lackluster 29 percent from the floor.
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Biola falls to 9-1, while CSUDH improves to 3-2 on the year. The Eagles take the rest of the week off for Thanksgiving and open Golden State Athletic Conference play at home on Tuesday night. Biola hosts San Diego Christian (3-1)