CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

 

MEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

 

2004-05 CPP Record: 9-4. CCAA Record: 4 -2

 

Broncos Look For A Big Performance In A Packed Gym: Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s basketball team, which has won eight of its last nine games, will try to continue its winning ways in an important weekend at home. The Broncos will host five-time defending California Collegiate Athletic Association champion Cal State San Bernardino Friday night in Kellogg Gym on Pack the Gym Night. All Cal Poly Pomona students, faculty and staff will be admitted free. The Broncos will try to break the regular-season attendance record of 1,504 set last season against Cal State Stanislaus. The Broncos enter the weekend coming off impressive victories at Chico State and Cal State Stanislaus and remain one game behind conference co-leaders Cal State San Bernardino and Cal State Bakersfield. Cal Poly Pomona will conclude the big weekend with a Saturday contest against UC San Diego. These two home games will be the only games in Kellogg Gym until Feb. 11 when the Broncos will face Cal State Bakersfield. The Broncos are coming off another successful season. Cal Poly Pomona, which has made the NCAA Division II playoffs in consecutive years for the first time in the program’s history, went 21-7 last season and notched its second straight 20-win season for the first time ever. The Broncos were 17-5 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association last year and set a new program standard for most conference wins in a season. The Broncos had a successful follow-up to their 2002-03 season, which ranks as one of the best in the program’s history.  Cal Poly Pomona won the 2003 West Regional and advanced to the national quarterfinals for only the second time in the program’s history and the first since the 1964. The 23 wins tied the program mark for most victories, also set by the 1964 squad. Cal Poly Pomona returns three starters and seven players overall from last year’s squad, including preseason All-American Jeff Bonds (Sr., Compton, Mayfair HS) and All-CCAA and All-West Region selection David Sybesma (Sr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS).

 

About Last Week: The Broncos swept a pair of California Collegiate Athletic Association games to remain one game behind conference co-leaders Cal State San Bernardino and Cal State Bakersfield. Cal Poly Pomona opened the weekend with a 73-52 win at Chico State. The Broncos held the Wildcats to just 34.9 percent shooting and handed Chico State its first home defeat of the season. Cal Poly Pomona jumped out to a 38-27 lead by halftime after shooting 59 percent in the first 20 minutes. The Broncos led by double-digit margins the entire second half and built leads as large as 27 points. Jeff Bonds (Sr., Compton, Mayfair HS), the leading scorer in the CCAA, had 24 points, nine rebounds, four blocks, three steals and two assists to lead the Broncos, while Hervey Malone II (Jr., Pittsburg, Pittsburg HS) continued his solid play with 13 points and four rebounds. David Sybesma (Sr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) had 11 points, four rebounds and four assists. Jonathan Boyd (Jr., Fontana, Etiwanda HS) had seven points and two steals for the Broncos. Cal Poly Pomona then completed its first weekend sweep of the season by rolling past Cal State Stanislaus, 76-50, on Saturday night. Sybesma recorded a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Bonds added 13 points, five rebounds, four blocks and four steals. The Broncos put the game away early, roaring to a 36-14 halftime lead and leading by at least 18 points the rest of the way. The Warriors managed only five first-half field goals. All nine Cal Poly Pomona players scored points in the game. Malone had eight points, Kaelen Daniels (Fr., Compton, Artesia HS) had seven points and four rebounds, Dion Cook (So., Canoga Park, Chaminade HS), Matt Nelsen (Sr., Santa Clarita, New Mexico Highlands) and Kevin Neveu (Fr., San Leandro, St. Joseph HS) had six points each, Billy Hofman (So., Sierra Madre, La Canada HS) had five points and six assists, while Boyd added five points and three rebounds.

 

Head to Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 14-14 all-time against Cal State San Bernardino, including a 1-0 in postseason competition. The Coyotes won both games last season, routing the Broncos, 67-49, in San Bernardino on Dec. 2 and then completing the sweep with an 85-77 victory in Kellogg Gym on Dec. 13. The teams also met three times in 2002-03, including the memorable 2003 NCAA Division II West Region championship game when the Broncos rallied from 19 points down in the second half to post a 91-84 win in double overtime. Jeff Bonds (Sr., Compton, Mayfair HS) posted a career-high 31 points in the victory, while David Sybesma (Sr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) hit a leaning, 14-foot jumper to send the game into overtime. That win sent the Broncos to the national quarterfinals for only the second time in the program’s history. The teams split the two regular-season meetings that season with each team prevailing on its home court. Cal State San Bernardino is an amazing 103-13 in the CCAA since the start of the 1999-2000 season. Cal Poly Pomona is 7-5 all-time against UC San Diego and split the season series last year. The Tritons won in La Jolla, 66-64, on Jan. 9, but the Broncos won in Kellogg Gym, 71-66, on March 6 behind 24 points from Bonds.

 

Where We Stand: Cal Poly Pomona finds itself at the top or near the top of several key California Collegiate Athletic Association statistics. The Broncos lead the conference in scoring margin (+10.5) and assist-turnover ratio (1.17). The team is fourth in scoring (73.2 per game) and second in defense (62.8 per game). The Broncos are also second in field-goal percentage (47.5 percent). Jeff Bonds (Sr., Compton, Mayfair HS) leads the conference in scoring (18.4 points per game), while David Sybesma (Sr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) leads in scoring in conference games only (17.8 points per game) and is fourth overall (16.5). Bonds also leads the conference in blocked shots (1.31 per game) and is third in steals (2.08 per game). Billy Hofman (So., Sierra Madre, La Canada HS) is fourth in assist/turnover ratio (2.18).

 

The Kamansky File: Cal Poly Pomona Head Coach Greg Kamansky is beginning his fifth season as the leader of the Broncos. Kamansky has guided the Broncos to an 88-37 overall record. His winning percentage of .704 is the best in the program’s history. He led the Broncos to a 21-7 record last season and into the NCAA Division II playoffs for the second straight season. That was a successful follow-up to the sensational season in 2002-03 when he guided the Broncos to the West Region championship and the program’s first appearance in the national quarterfinals in 39 years. In the 2001-02 season, Kamansky guided the Broncos to an 18-9 overall record and a 15-7 mark in the CCAA, which was good enough for third place in the conference. As the interim coach four years ago, Kamansky guided a team picked to finish ninth in the CCAA to a 17-10 record and the brink of an NCAA playoff berth. The 17-10 record was the best-ever for a first-year coach in the program’s history. Kamansky was an assistant coach at Cal Poly Pomona for two seasons before succeeding Tim Rapp.

 

The Name Is Bonds; Jeff Bonds: Cal Poly Pomona’s Jeff Bonds is well on his way to  becoming one of the best players in the history of the program. Bonds (Sr., Compton, Mayfair HS) became the program’s all-time leading scorer during a 26-point performance against Western Washington on Nov. 27. Bonds surpassed the old mark of 1,302 held by Lucas LeCour and now has 1,487 points in his Cal Poly Pomona career. He currently leads the California Collegiate Athletic Association in scoring with 18.4 points per game. He also leads the Broncos in rebounding, steals and blocks. He has already been named CCAA Player of the Week twice this season. Bonds led the Broncos in scoring for a second straight year last season with a 17.3 point per game average. He earned first-team All-CCAA honors for the second straight season and also earned first-team NABC All-West Region honors as well. He was at his best once again in the postseason, pouring in a team-high 26 points in the Broncos’ first-round loss to Humboldt State. In 2003, Bonds averaged 19.5 points per game in the Broncos’ four playoff contests. The highlight was a career-high 31-point outburst that helped the Broncos upend Cal State San Bernardino, 91-84, in double overtime in the regional championship game. He also scored 20 points in a semi-final victory over Cal State Bakersfield. He was named the West Regional Most Outstanding Player after averaging 19.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in the three regional contests. Bonds led the team in scoring (14.4 points) and rebounding (5.8 per game) for the season and was named to the All-CCAA first team. He was the only CCAA player to receive honorable mention All-America honors this season by Street & Smith’s, the second year he has been honored by the publication.

 

Fired Up About Sybesmania: Cal Poly Pomona forward David Sybesma (Sr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) returns for his fourth season with the program and he, too, will go down as one of the best players in the program’s history. He is currently second on the team in scoring with a 16.5 points per game average and is coming off a 20-point, 12-rebound performance against Cal State Stanislaus. He has climbed to sixth on the all-time scoring list with 1,100 points in his career. Sybesma earned first-team All-CCAA honors last season after finishing second on the team with a 14.0 points per game average. He was also second on the team in rebounding with 5.6 boards per game. He also continued his knack of hitting big-time shots for the Broncos, sinking a 3-pointer in the final seconds to send a critical home game against Cal State Stanislaus into overtime. In 2003, he made one of the biggest shots in the program’s history. Sybesma hit a 14-foot leaner in the lane to beat the buzzer and send the West Regional championship game against Cal State San Bernardino into overtime. Cal Poly Pomona eventually won the game in double overtime to advance to the Elite Eight. He was the only player to start all of the Broncos’ first 30 games, only to miss the Elite Eight game against Kentucky Wesleyan because of a severely infected toe. Sybesma was second on the team in scoring that year with a 10.7 points per game average and was another player who stepped up his production in the playoffs. He averaged 16.3 points per game and led the Broncos with 7.3 rebounds per game. Sybesma was named to the All-CCAA second team in 2003.

 

Look Who’s New: The Broncos are welcoming five players to their program this season and four of the five are freshman. The lone upperclassmen is Matt Nelsen, a 6-foot-4 senior guard from New Mexico Highlands. The Broncos are also excited about first-year players Kevin Neveu (Fr., San Leandro, St. Joseph Notre Dame HS), Bill Forelli (Fr., Gig Harbor, WA, Gig Harbor HS), Ryan Chisholm (Fr., Richmond, Marin Catholic HS) and Kyle Kraus (Fr., Wasco, Wasco HS). In addition, Kaelen Daniels (Fr., Compton, Artesia HS), who redshirted last year, is expected to make major contributions this year in his first season on the active roster.

 

Where We Left Off: Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s basketball team finished the 2003-04 season with a 21-7 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the second straight season. The Broncos, the No. 6 seed, lost a heartbreaking 86-83 decision to eventual regional champion Humboldt State. Jeff Bonds (Sr., Compton, Mayfair HS) had a sensational game, pouring in 26 points and leading four Broncos in double figures. Jonathan Boyd (Jr., Fontana, Etiwanda HS) had a career-high 17 points and knocked down five 3-pointers, while David Sybemsa (Sr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) and Jonathan Williams had 16 points each. Sybemsa also had a career-high nine assists. Humboldt State hit an amazing 15 of its 20 attempts from behind the 3-point arc. The Broncos set a new program standard by winning 17 California Collegiate Athletic Association games while finishing third in the conference with a 17-5 mark. The Broncos also notched their second straight 20-win season for the first time ever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLAYER NOTES:

 

10        BILLY HOFMAN (G, So., Sierra Madre, La Canada HS)

Last Week: Had five points, three rebounds, six assists, and two steals against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday; had four points, two rebounds, four assists, and two steals against Chico State on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 5.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Currently is first on the team in assists and leads in 3-point field-goal shooting percentage (.552).

Season Highs: Points – 12 at Grand Canyon (12-18-04); Rebounds – 6 vs. BYU-Hawaii (1-3-05); Assists – 6 at Cal State Stanislaus (1-15-05), vs. Seattle University (12-14-04).

Career Highs: Points – 12 at Grand Canyon (12-18-04); Rebounds – 6 vs. BYU-Hawaii (1-3-05); Assists – 6 at Cal State Stanislaus (1-15-05), vs. Seattle University (12-14-04).

 

11        JONATHAN BOYD (G, Jr., Fontana, Etiwanda HS)

Last Week: Had seven points, one rebound and two steals against Chico State on Friday; had five points with three rebounds against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 6.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Is fifth on the team in scoring and is tied for third on the team in 3-point field goals made (16).

Season Highs: Points – 15 at Grand Canyon (12-18-04); Rebounds – 5 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04); Assists – 3 at Western Washington (11-27-04), vs. Saint Martin’s (11-26-04).

Career Highs: Points – 17 vs. Humboldt State (3-12-04); Rebounds – 5 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04), vs. Chico State (1-2-04), vs. Western Washington (12-17-03), vs. North Dakota State (11-28-03), at San Francisco State (2-28-03); Assists – 4 at UC San Diego (1-9-04).

 

 

20        HERVEY MALONE II (G, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pittsburg HS)

Last Week: Had 13 points, four rebounds and two steals against Chico State on Friday; had eight points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 8.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Is third on the team in scoring, first in 3-point field goals made (20) and second in 3-point field goal percentage (.488).

Season Highs: Points – 22 vs. BYU-Hawaii (1-3-05); Rebounds – 7 vs. Saint Martin’s (11-26-04); Assists – 3 at Western Washington (11-27-04).

Career Highs: Points – 22 vs. BYU-Hawaii (1-3-05); Rebounds – 7 vs. Saint Martin’s (11-26-04), vs. Sonoma State (2-21-04), vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04); Assists – 5 at Hope International (11-22-03), vs. Alaska Fairbanks (3-14-03).

 

 

22        DION COOK (G, So., Canoga Park, Chaminade HS)

Last Week: Had six points, three rebounds and three assists against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday; had five points, three rebounds and one steal against Chico State on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 8.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Is fourth on the team in scoring and second in 3-pointers made (17).

Season Highs: Points – 15 vs. BYU-Hawaii (1-3-05); Rebounds – 5 at Cal State L.A. (1-07-05), vs. Dominican University (12-29-04), vs. Vanguard (11-23-04); Assists – 4 at Cal State Bakersfield (1-08-05), vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04), at Western Washington (11-27-04).

Career Highs: Points – 15 vs. BYU-Hawaii (1-3-05); Rebounds – 5 at Cal State L.A. (1-07-05), vs. Vanguard (11-23-04), vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-24-04); Assists – 4 at Cal State Bakersfield (1-08-05), vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04), at Western Washington (11-27-04), at UC Davis (2-27-04).

 

23        MATT NELSEN (G, Sr., Santa Clarita, New Mexico Highlands)

Last Week: Had six points, two rebounds, and one assist against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday; went scoreless with two rebounds and one steal against Chico State on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 2.8 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 7 at Cal State L.A. (1-07-05); Rebounds – 4 at Cal State L.A. (1-07-05); Assists – 4 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

 

32        JEFF BONDS (F, Sr., Compton, Mayfair HS)

Last Week: Had 17 first-half points and finished with a game-high 24 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and three steals against Chico State on Friday; had 13 points, five rebounds and four steals against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 18.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Leads the California Collegiate Athletic Association in scoring and also leads the team in rebounding, blocks and steals. Has been named CCAA Player of the Week twice this season.

Season Highs: Points – 26 at Western Washington (11-27-04); Rebounds – 14 vs. Saint Martin’s (11-26-04); Assists – 5 vs. Dominican University (12-29-04).

Career Highs: Points – 31 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (3-17-03); Rebounds – 14 vs. Saint Martin’s (11-26-04); Assists – 6 vs. Montana State-Billings (12-30-02).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

33        DAVID SYBESMA (F, Sr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS)

Last Week: Had 20 points, tied a season high with 12 rebounds, and had three assists against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday; had 11 points, four rebounds and four assists against Chico State on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 16.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Leads the California Collegiate Athletic Association in conference-games only scoring (17.8 points per game). Is second on the team in overall scoring and rebounding. Also, is second on the team in assists and is also second in steals.

Season Highs: Points – 27 at Cal State Bakersfield (1-08-05); Rebounds – 12 at Cal State Stanislaus (1-15-05), vs. Dominican University (12-29-04); Assists – 6 vs. Dominican University (12-29-04), vs. Saint Martin’s (11-26-04), vs. Vanguard (11-23-04).

Career Highs: Points – 27 at Cal State Bakersfield (1-08-05), at Cal State Stanislaus (1-31-04); Rebounds – 12 vs. Dominican University (12-29-04); Assists – 9 vs. Humboldt State (3-12-04).

 

34        KAELEN DANIELS (C, Fr., Compton, Artesia HS)

Last Week: Had seven points and four rebounds in his second start of the season against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday; had four points with four rebounds against Chico State on Friday

2004-05:  Averaging 4.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 8 vs. Vanguard (11-23-04); Rebounds – 7 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04); Assists – 3 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

44        KEVIN NEVEU (F, Fr., San Leandro, St. Joseph Notre Dame HS)

Last Week: Had six points, a season-high four rebounds, and two blocked shots against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday; had five points, three rebounds, and one blocked shot in his first start of the season against Chico State on Friday.

2004-05:  Averaging 3.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 9 at Cal State L.A. (1-07-05); Rebounds – 4 at Cal State Stanislaus (1-15-05); Assists – 2 vs. Dominican University (12-29-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.