Fresh off of the best season in program history, the CSUDH men’s basketball team has set their sights on another deep tournament run in 2025-2026. They’ve already gotten off to a fast start. They are currently on a five-game winning streak and sit at 2-0 atop the CCAA rankings.
In a record-breaking season, the 24-25 Toros finished with a 30-6 record, winning the CCAA regular season and tournament titles and taking home the program’s first NCAA West Regional Championship. A historic run in the NCAA tournament took them all the way to the national championship game, where they fell by one point to the No. 1 team in Division II, Nova Southeastern.
“What made it so great was we did it with a bunch of players who had grown in the program,” says head coach Steve Becker. “We accomplished so much with a group of kids that had stayed together, didn’t transfer, and grew in the program. Then to have the best season in school history is something they’re all really proud of.”
The team lost All-American Jeremy Dent-Smith, who graduated from CSUDH and transferred to Stanford for his final year of college eligibility. But they return another key player from last year’s squad, guard David Cheatom, who made the Elite Eight All-Tournament team last year after averaging 17 points per game in six NCAA tournament games.
“David turned down Division I scholarship opportunities to come back,” says Becker. “He’s going to finish his master’s program at CSUDH first. He’ll be the first person in his family to get a master’s, which is awesome.”
Becker is excited to welcome several new players to the mix, including guard Dasean Stevens, a transfer from Seattle University. “He’s going to be one of the best players in the league,” says Becker. Other key players include sophomore forward Josiah Sanders, a transfer from Cal Poly Humboldt, and junior guard Jalen Brown, a transfer from Regis University.
The whole squad has impressed Becker so far. “I think we have better talent this year than we did last year,” he says. “That’s not to say that we’re as far along as that team was, because they had all played together for so long. But I think our talent level is better this year. We’re really excited about this year’s team.”
Once again, Becker and the team have high expectations for the season. The Toros were selected as the favorites to repeat at champions of the CCAA in the preseason coaches’ poll, and they are looking forward to another run at the title.
“The hope is to win it all this year,” says Becker.
He adds, “After the success of both our men’s and women’s teams last year, I think Dominguez Hills basketball is on the map. We have national respect, and I’d like the people within the community to know that you have an elite level basketball club here in your backyard, on your campus.”
“I would love to see more people out at our games, supporting these fantastic student athletes.”
The CSUDH Men’s Basketball team continues their season on Saturday, Dec. 13, in an exhibition against Nobel University, at 3 PM. Their CCAA schedule resumes on Friday, Dec. 19, against Cal State East Bay and Sunday, Dec. 21, against San Francisco State University. All three games are at the University Gymnasium.
