Dominguez Hills Beats L.A. on Bennett Heroics

He is only a freshman and has had to live in the shadow of a flashy all-conference teammate who can shoot the lights out. But when push came to shove Saturday night at Cal State Los Angeles, skinny little Raymond Bennett earned the game ball.

The 6-foot, 160-pound guard from Carson High School came through with three 3-point baskets, another field goal and three free throws in the closing minutes to help Cal State Dominguez Hills win its first California Collegiate Athletic Assn. game, 64-62.

It’s a common fact around the CCAA that junior Toro guard Robert Barksdale is supposed to shoot the big shots for Dominguez Hills.

Saturday night Barksdale had the numbers again, scoring 23 points, but it was Washington’s heroics that won the game. Barksmissed the front end of a one-and-one with 14 seconds remaining and the Toros leading, 64-60.

No matter. Cal State L.A. rebounded, but Washington stepped in front of Darron Jackson, the former guard from El Camino College, and deflected the ball off Jackson’s hands and out of bounds. Cal State L.A. was through.

Cal State Los Angeles 50, Dominguez Hills, 45.

In the women’s game, the hosts (7-10, 1-2) made just one field goal in the first 15 minutes but made 10 of 14 free throws to trail only 18-16 at halftime. The Lady Golden Eagles took the lead for good, 37-36, with nine minutes to go. Friday, the Lady Toros (9-9, 1-3) lost at Cal State Northridge, 50-43.