CALIFORNIA STATE
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA
Bronco Sports News
For Immediate Release
Jan. 22, 2002
Contact: Paul Helms
(909) 869-2812
MEN’S BASKETBALL
MEDIA NOTES
2001-02 CPP Record: 11-4. CCAA Record: 8-2
2001-02 Regional Ranking: 9
Kellogg Gym Is The Place To Be: Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s basketball team, ranked ninth in the latest West Region poll, will host the No. 1 team in the nation, Cal State San Bernardino, Wednesday night at 8 p.m. The Broncos, currently third in the CCAA, trail the first-place Coyotes by two games. This will be the third straight home game for the Broncos, who played nine of their first 13 contests on the road. Cal Poly Pomona is 6-0 at home this season. Cal State San Bernardino is 10-0 in the conference and is the two-time defending CCAA champ. The Coyotes are 47-7 in their last 54 conference games dating back to the beginning of the 1999-00 season.
Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 13-9 all-time against Cal State San Bernardino, but has dropped the past three. The Coyotes won both games last year, 88-70, on Jan. 24 in San Bernardino and 68-56 in Kellogg Gym on Jan. 27. The Broncos’ last win over the Coyotes came on Nov. 13, 1999, 88-83. Julian Hammond scored 29 points to lead the Broncos.
About Last Week: The Broncos recorded a pair of important home victories last weekend to improve to 8-2 in conference play for the second straight season. Cal Poly Pomona rolled to a 69-44 victory over San Francisco State on Friday. The Broncos allowed only 17 first-half points to the Gators and the 44 points allowed for the game are a season-low, eclipsing the 47 the Broncos allowed to Cal State Bakersfield. Freshman David Sybesma scored 13 points to lead the Broncos, while Jeff Bonds had 10 points and five rebounds and Jonathan Williams had 10 points, three rebounds and four steals. Seven Cal Poly Pomona players – Williams, Sybesma, Lucas LeCour, Marques Montgomery, T.J. Williams, Andy Bratt and Yousof Etemadi – hit 3-pointers in the game. On the following night, the Broncos had another solid defensive showing, limiting Sonoma State to only 18 first-half points in a 59-54 victory. Raymond Hubbard led the Broncos with 22 points and seven rebounds, while Bonds recorded 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. LeCour added nine points and five steals. Cal Poly Pomona forced 24 turnovers and had 13 steals. Jonathan Williams had three steals for the Broncos.
The Kamansky File: There is no more “interim” tag for Cal Poly Pomona Head Coach Greg Kamansky, who is in his second season leading the Broncos. As the interim coach last year, 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. Kamansky’s current record with the Broncos is 28-14.
Leading With Lucas: Senior guard Lucas LeCour is leading the Broncos for a second straight season. LeCour is tops on the team in scoring (13.8 points per game), minutes played (28.8 per game), assists (2.9 per game) and steals (2.4 per game). LeCour leads the conference in steals, is seventh in assists and is 12th in scoring. He scored a season-high 24 points and grabbed a season-high eight rebounds in the win over Grand Canyon on Jan. 12. It was the second week in a row he had set a new season high for scoring. Previously, LeCour scored 22 points in a win over Chico State on Jan. 5. He also scored 20 points in wins against La Verne on Nov. 28 and at Cal State Stanislaus on Dec. 8. LeCour has scored in double figures in 10 of the Broncos’ first 15 games. LeCour flourished last season as a junior when he became a full-time starter for the first time at Cal Poly Pomona. He led the team in scoring with 15.7 points per game and earned second-team All-CCAA and All-West Region honors. LeCour also shot a sizzling 82 percent from the free-throw line. He led the team in minutes played (839) and reached double figures in 22 of the Broncos’ 27 games.
Everybody Loves Raymond: Senior forward Raymond Hubbard is once again providing instant offense and rebounding muscle off the bench for the Broncos and has also produced big numbers in his two starts. Hubbard, in his second start of the season last Saturday, scored a career-high 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Broncos past Sonoma State. Hubbard missed Friday’s loss at UC San Diego because of illness, but was back for the Broncos’ 93-66 win at Grand Canyon. Hubbard contributed 11 points and four rebounds in 20 minutes. Hubbard had a huge weekend for the Broncos in their road wins against Cal State Stanislaus and Cal State Bakersfield on Dec. 8-9 and was named the CCAA’s Player of the Week. Hubbard had 17 points and six rebounds against the Warriors and added 16 points and nine rebounds against Cal State Bakersfield. Hubbard is currently third on the team in scoring with an 11.6 points per game average and is second in rebounding with a 5.4 average. Hubbard led all Bronco reserves in scoring last year with a 9.8 points per game average (third on the team) and was third on the squad in rebounding, averaging 4.7 per game.
The Name Is Bonds; Jeff Bonds: The Broncos are getting some sensational play from newcomer Jeff Bonds (Fr., Compton, Mayfair HS). Bonds has already provided a big boost to the Cal Poly Pomona team with his exciting and explosive style of play. Bonds has started the last four games for the Broncos. He had a team-high 15 points and four rebounds in the loss at UC San Diego on Jan. 11 in his first start. He followed that up with 13 points and nine rebounds in the victory at Grand Canyon. He had 10 points and five rebounds against San Francisco State and then had 10 points and a season-high 10 rebounds against Sonoma State. Bonds poured in a season-high 23 points on Jan. 4 in a loss at UC Davis, while making seven of his eight field-goal attempts and nine of his 10 free throws. Bonds has scored in double figures in 12 straight games. He is second on the team in scoring with a 12.5 points per game average and leads the team in rebounding (5.5 per game).
Another Fabulous Freshman: Cal Poly Pomona forward David Sybesma (Fr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) is another freshman stepping up for the Broncos. Sybesma led the Broncos in scoring for the first time this season with a 13-point performance Friday against San Francisco State. He also had seven points and four rebounds in the win over Sonoma State on Saturday night. Sybesma scored a season-high 16 points in the win at Chico State on Jan. 5. He also had two rebounds and three steals in the win. Sybesma is currently fourth on the team in scoring and fifth in rebounding.
This And That: The Broncos set a new school record
for defensive excellence last year, allowing just 66.4 points per game. So far
this year, the defense has been even better, allowing only 63.6 points per
game. Without the Montana State-Billings’ 105 points counted in, the Broncos
have allowed their other 14 opponents only 60.6 points per game. After Montana State-Billings,
UC Davis’ 82 points are the most allowed by the Broncos this season. San
Francisco State’s 44 points are the lowest. Cal State Bakersfield managed just
47. … The Broncos were 4-0 in CCAA play for the first time since 1975-76. The
Broncos are hoping that’s a good sign: that was also the last time the Broncos
advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs. … The Broncos own a narrow 555-543
edge in rebounding so far. Jeff Bonds leads with 82 rebounds in 15 games, while
Raymond Hubbard has 75 rebounds in 14 games. … Cal Poly Pomona has 140 steals
so far this season, including a season-high 14 against San Francisco State. The
Broncos also had 13 against Sonoma State, 12
against Chico State and 11 against Cal State Bakersfield. Lucas LeCour
leads the team with 36, including five against Sonoma State.
Coach’s Corner: (About last weekend): “We played well enough to win both games. We played excellent defense, but our offense is still a work in progress. We played against two better defensive teams, but we obviously didn’t take a step forward, which is what we need to do. Over the next two weeks, if we don’t get our offense right, it will be exposed because our next four games are against some of the best defensive teams in the conference.”
(About playing No. 1 Cal State San Bernardino twice this week): “We’re in the eye of the hurricane right now, we’re right in the middle of it. The reality of it is we have nothing to lose. We’re not expected to beat them so we’ll just go out and see how much better we can become as a team.”
(About Cal State San Bernardino moving up to No. 1): “No.2, No.1, what’s the difference? Either way, they’re still an excellent team. I’ve said from Day One I thought they were hands-down the class of the conference and they have proven me right.”
(About the team’s mind-set heading into this week): “They should be excited. It’s a great opportunity for us. It’s another challenge to see how we respond against the best team in the country so it should be a fun game. Our focus is to make the playoffs and we have two games against a team ahead of us right now. Our next two weeks are big. Next weekend, when we play Stanislaus and Bakersfield, will probably be even bigger than this week. We need to get stronger if we’re going to get through these next two weeks in good shape.”
-- Head Coach Greg Kamansky
PLAYER NOTES
3 JONATHAN WILLIAMS (G, So., Pasadena, Muir HS)
Last Weekend: Scored a season-high 10 points and had three rebounds, one assist and four steals in 19 minutes against San Francisco State; had two points, two rebounds and one assist against Sonoma State.
2001-02: Averaging 4.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Has made 20 of 24 free-throw attempts this season.
Season Highs: Points – 10 vs. San Francisco State (1-18-02); Rebounds – 5 at CS Bakersfield (12-9-01). Assists – 5 vs. La Verne (11-28-01).
Career Highs: Points – 11 vs. UC San Diego (1-12-01); Rebounds – 5 at CS Bakersfield (12-9-01); Assists – 8 at UC San Diego (3-3-01).
Career Highs: Points – 26 vs. CS Stanislaus (2-9-01); Rebounds – 11 vs. UC Riverside (12-11-99); Assists – 8 vs. UC Davis (1-4-02).
T.J. WILLIAMS (G, Sr., Dana Point, Santa Margarita HS)
Last Weekend: Scored three points in nine minutes against San Francisco State; had four points and four rebounds in 17 minutes against Sonoma State. Has started 12 of 15 games.
2001-02: Averaging 5.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.
Season Highs: Points – 14 vs. La Verne (11-28-01); Rebounds – 5 vs. CS Dominguez Hills (12-15-01); Assists – 3 vs. CS Bakersfield (12-9-01).
Career Highs: Points – 18 vs. Cal State L.A. (1-28-00); Rebounds – 6 (Three times); Assists – 6 vs. UC Davis (2-12-00).
MARQUES MONTGOMERY (G, Sr.,
Cerritos, Valley Christian HS)
Last Weekend: Had five points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal against San Francisco State; had two points and two rebounds against Sonoma State.
2001-02: Averaging 4.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists per game.
Season Highs: Points – 10 vs. Cal State L.A. (12-14-01), Rebounds – 6 at UC San Diego (1-11-02); Assists: 3 at UC San Diego (1-11-02).
Career Highs: Points - 11 vs. CS Bakersfield (2-10-01); Rebounds – 6 at UC San Diego (1-11-02), vs. UC Riverside (2-5-00); Assists: 4 vs. La Verne (12-2-00).
ANDY BRATT (G, So., Tucson,
Salpointe HS)
Last Weekend: Had three points and two steals in four minutes against San Francisco State; DNP-CD against Sonoma State.
2001-02: Averaging 1.9 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.1 assists per game. Has appeared in 10 games.
Season Highs: Points – 5 at Grand Canyon (1-12-02), vs. La Verne (11-28-01); Rebounds – 2 at Grand Canyon (1-12-02), vs. CS Dominguez Hills (12-15-01); Assists – 1 vs. La Verne (11-28-01).
Career Highs: Points – 7 vs. Hope International (11-25-00), Vanguard University (12-30-01); Rebounds – 4 vs. UC San Diego (1-12-01); Assists – 1 (Seven Times).
RAFAEL ZIELONKA (F, Sr.,
Anaheim, Servite HS)
Last Weekend: Had seven points, two rebounds, one block and two steals against San Francisco State; had two points and one assist against Sonoma State.
2001-02: Averaging 4.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.4 assists per game. Has started all 15 games for the Broncos.
Season Highs: Points – 9 at UC San Diego (1-11-02); Rebounds – 9 at UC San Diego (1-11-02), Assists – 2 at CS Stanislaus (12-8-01).
Career Highs: Points – 10 at Vanguard (12-30-00); Rebounds – 9 at UC San Diego (1-11-02); Assists – 3 at Vanguard (12-30-00).
YOUSOF ETEMADI (G, Jr., Laguna
Hills, Saddleback College)
Last Weekend: Scored three points and had one rebound and one assist against San Francisco State; DNP-CD against Sonoma State.
2001-02: Averaging 3.4 points, 0.6 rebounds, 0.4 assists per game. Has appeared in five games.
Season Highs: Points – 9 vs. La Verne (11-28-01); Rebounds – 1 vs. San Francisco State (1-18-02), 1 vs. La Verne (11-28-01), vs. Dominican College (12-29-01); Assists – 1 vs. San Francisco State (1-18-02), 1 vs. La Verne (11-28-01).
Career Highs: First year with Broncos.
JEFF BONDS (F, Fr., Compton,
Mayfair HS)
Last Weekend Scored 10 points with five rebounds, one assist and two steals against San Francisco State; had 10 points and a season-high 10 rebounds against Sonoma State.
2001-02: Averaging 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist per game. Has appeared in 15 games and started in the last four. Has scored in double figures in last 12 games.
Season Highs: Points – 23 at UC Davis (1-4-02); Rebounds – 10 vs. Sonoma State (1-19-02); Assists – 2 vs. Dominican College (12-29-01).
Career Highs: First year with Broncos.
DAVID SYBESMA (F, Fr., Corona,
Corona Centennial HS)
Last Weekend: Scored a team-high 13 points with three rebounds and one assist against San Francisco State; had seven points and four rebounds against Sonoma State.
2001-02: Averaging 5.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists per game. Has appeared in 15 games, reached double figures in scoring three times.
Season Highs: Points – 16 at Chico State; Rebounds – 7 at Grand Canyon (1-12-02); Assists – 4 at UC San Diego (1-11-02).
Career Highs: First year with Broncos.
JAMES CADY (C, Fr., Bakersfield,
Stockdale HS)
Last Weekend: Had one point in four minutes against San Francisco State; DNP-CD against Sonoma State.
2001-02: Averaging 1.0 point, 0.9 rebounds, 0.0 assists per game. Has appeared in seven games.
Season Highs: Points – 4 at Montana State-Billings (12-22-01); Rebounds – 5 vs. La Verne (11-28-01).
Career Highs: First year with Broncos.
STEVE LAMBERT (F, Jr., Covina,
Charter Oak HS)
Last Weekend: DNP-CD against San Francisco State; had one point and one rebound against Sonoma State.
2001-02: Averaging 4.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.2 assists per game. Has appeared in 14 games; started five times.
Season Highs: Points – 13 at Azusa Pacific (11-24-01); Rebounds – 12 vs. La Verne (11-28-01); Assists – 1 at UC Davis (1-4-02).
Career Highs: Points – 32 vs. La Verne (12-2-00); Rebounds – 14 vs. La Verne (12-2-00). Assists – 2 vs. Vanguard (12-30-00).
JESSE ALTAMIRANO (C, Sr.,
Whittier, East L.A. College)
Last Weekend: DNP-CD in both games.
2001-02: Averaging 0.0 points, 1.0 rebound. Appeared in two games.
Season Highs: Points – 0; Rebounds – 2 vs. La Verne (11-28-01)
Career Highs: Points – 5 vs. La Verne (12-2-00); Rebounds – 4 vs. La Verne (12-2-00).
RAYMOND HUBBARD (F, Sr.,
Chicago, Cuyamaca CC)
Last Weekend: Scored five points with two rebounds in 17 minutes against San Francisco State; scored a career-high 22 points with seven rebounds against Sonoma State.
2001-02: Averaging 11.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.6 assists. Appeared in 14 games and started twice. Third on the team in scoring and second in rebounding.
Season Highs: Points – 22 vs. Sonoma State (1-19-02); Rebounds – 11 at Azusa Pacific (11-24-01); Assists – 2 at UC Davis (1-4-02).
Career Highs: Points – 22 vs. Sonoma State (1-19-02); Rebounds – 11 at Azusa Pacific (11-24-01); Assists – 3 at UC San Diego (3-3-01).
DAVE ERICKSON (C, Sr., Newbury
Park, Newbury Park HS)
Last Weekend: Scored two points with two rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal against San Francisco State; played one scoreless minute against Sonoma State.
2001-02: Averaging 2.8 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.1 assists. Appeared in 12 games and has started seven times.
Season Highs: Points – 8 vs. Dominican College (12-29-01); Rebounds – 4 at Montana State-Billings (12-22-01).
Career Highs: Points – 15 vs. Sonoma State (1-2-01); Rebounds – 14 at Cal State Northridge (11-28-00); Assists – 2 vs. UC Davis (1-19-01).