[Box score]

SAN DIEGO - For the first time in school history, the Cal State Dominguez Hills men's basketball team is heading to the Elite Eight! The Toros held off a tough Point Loma team, coming back late in the game in front of a raucous crowd to win the NCAA West Regional, 61-58.
 
The region's Most Outstanding Player, Adam Afifi, led the way for CSUDH, putting up a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds. He was 8-of-13 from the field and 6-of-6 at the free throw line. The senior forward also added three blocks and three steals.
 
David Cheatom joined Afifi as an all-tournament selection after scoring 16 points and going 10-of-13 at the free throw line. He finished the three-game tournament averaging 19.0 points and 7.3 rebounds and went 26-of-31 from the charity stripe. Jeremy Dent-Smith also received all-tournament recognition after scoring 12 points and posting a game-high five assists.
 
Cal State Dominguez Hills built a 33-27 halftime lead behind 10 points from Dent-Smith and 11 from Afifi. Point Loma battled back in the second half and tied the game at 47-47 with ten minutes remaining. From there, the two teams traded baskets with five ties and four lead changes before the final minute.
 
A layup by PLNU's Luke Haupt tied the game at 58-58 with just over a minute remaining. After a timeout, CSUDH set up a play, but the ball was poked away on the drive, resulting in a scramble for the loose ball. Alex Garcia was fouled in the scramble for the ball, sending him to the line for two free throws. He made the second to put the Toros back in front 59-58.
 
With the chance to go back in front, Point Loma cleared out space for Coby Barnes who took Dent-Smith into the post. After an initial bump, Barnes went back in for a second and knocked Dent-Smith to the ground, resulting in a charge and Toros taking back the ball.
 
With 31.8 seconds on the clock when the possession began, CSUDH put the ball in the hands of Dent-Smith, who took the time to 15 seconds when he made his drive. Dent-Smith drove from the top of the key on the right side and dished off a perfect bounce pass, splitting two defenders, to find Afifi open for the layup with 12.1 seconds remaining.
 
Point Loma would have a great look to tie the game on the subsequent out-of-bounds play as they found a shooter open on the wing, but his shot found iron, and the Toros maintained the two-point lead with 3.1 seconds remaining. The Toros had a chance to seal it at the free throw line but missed two shots. That gave PLNU one more shot to tie the game, and it looked like Haupt's shot from just beyond halfcourt might do just that. It was on line at the basket, but the ball found the back of the rim and Toros celebrated.
 
CSUDH outscored PLNU 20-7 in points off turnovers, including 15-3 in the second half. It helped the Toros overcome a night where they shot 2-of-17 from 3-point range and scored their lowest point total in a win all season.
 
The Toros also limited the Sea Lions to just one scorer in double-figures. Zack Paulson led PLNU with 22 points, going 6-of-11 from the field and 10-of-11 at the line.
 
Cal State Dominguez Hills will advance to the Elite Eight starting Tuesday, Mar. 25, in Evansville, Ind. The first two games at the Elite Eight will be available on ESPN+, with the championship game scheduled to air on CBS.