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Conference history was made last week when Cal State Dominguez Hills became the first university to win the CCAA regular season and CCAA Tournament Championships in both men's and women's basketball.
The Toros are the first team to capture all four titles outright in the same season in the over 25 years the tournament has been held.
“At Dominguez Hills, we pride ourselves on setting the curve and not just following the leader. That is precisely what our Women’s and Men’s basketball teams have done in capturing both the regular season and tournament championships in the same year in historic fashion," said CSUDH President
Dr. Thomas Parham. “Unquestionably, I have tremendous pride in what these young men and women have achieved athletically, but I am equally proud of their achievements in the classroom and the responsible adults they have become. As a team, and as individual players, they serve as symbols of possibility and potential for future generations to ascend to similar heights.”
UC San Diego won both women's basketball championships in 2019, and their men's team won the tournament title. The men's regular season title was shared between Cal Poly Pomona and UC San Diego. Only twice in conference history has a university captured three of the four championships.
"What CSUDH basketball accomplished this year is a historic achievement, as this has not yet happened in outright fashion since the conference added the postseason tournament 25 years ago," said CCAA Commissioner
Allen Hardison. "I would like to congratulate all the CSUDH student-athletes, coaches, campus leadership and the athletic administration on the tremendous season."
Coach
John Bonner led the Cal State Dominguez Hills women's basketball team to a 31-1 record and as high as the No. 2 rankings in the country. The Toros were picked third in the CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll and won their first 28 games (20 straight in CCAA play) to win their second regular season title in three years and sixth in program history. He was named the CCAA Coach of the Year, and
Nala Williams earned CCAA Player of the Year and CCAA Defensive Player of the Year honors.
The Cal State Dominguez Hills men's basketball team won the CCAA regular season titles in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history. CCAA Coach of the Year
Steve Becker led CSUDH to a 20-2 record in conference play (25-5 overall), including a 10-1 mark at the Torodome. Senior
Jordan Hilstock earned CCAA Defensive Player of the Year and was named the CCAA Tournament MVP. The Toros have won 23 of their last 25 games as they begin NCAA postseason play.
“Along with their teams, I congratulate our coaches John Bonner and Steve Becker on phenomenal seasons and each winning COACH OF THE YEAR; The TORO NATION and I are very proud of them," added Parham. “These awards and accolades are a tribute to the standard of excellence each strives for, the hard work and long hours both them and their coaches put in, their ability to help their teams achieve maximum congruence between strategy and execution, and their stewardship of programs that align with the elevated standard of excellence our athletic director Eric McCurdy sets. I applaud their success and salute their achievements in this history-making year.”