CALIFORNIA STATE
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA
Bronco Sports News
For Immediate Release
Feb. 13, 2002
Contact: Paul Helms
(909) 869-2812
MEN’S BASKETBALL
MEDIA NOTES
2001-02 CPP Record: 14-7. CCAA Record: 11-5
2001-02 Regional Ranking: 9
The Postseason Quest Continues: Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s basketball team, after a split of road games last week at Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State L.A., hopes to gain some momentum with four straight home contests. The first two take place this weekend against Chico State at 8 p.m. on Friday and UC Davis at 8 p.m. Saturday. The Broncos, ranked ninth in the NCAA Division II West Region, are bidding for their first NCAA postseason berth since 1976. Cal Poly Pomona is currently third in the CCAA, one game ahead of UC Davis and two games behind second-place Cal State Bakersfield.
Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 8-7 all-time against Chico State, including an 81-71 victory in Chico on Jan. 5. Lucas LeCour (Sr., Las Vegas, Las Vegas HS) had 22 points, five assists and four rebounds to lead the Broncos, while David Sybesma (Fr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) had a season-high 16 points. The Bronco bench outscored Chico State’s, 49-5. Cal Poly Pomona is 10-11 all-time against UC Davis and dropped an 82-74 decision in Davis on Jan. 4. Jeff Bonds (Fr., Compton, Mayfair HS) had a season-high 23 points in the loss. UC Davis shot a sizzling 60.9 percent from the floor and were 7-9 from behind the 3-point arc.
About Last Week: The Broncos figured they would have their hands full with a much-improved Cal State Dominguez Hills team and they did. The Toros upended Cal Poly Pomona, 69-59, after withstanding a spirited Bronco comeback. Cal State Dominguez Hills raced out to a 21-6 lead just seven minutes into the game and the Broncos trailed 34-25 at halftime. Cal Poly Pomona closed to within two points three times in the second half, but never could get even. Steve Lambert (Jr., Covina, Charter Oak HS) had a season-high 16 points for the Broncos, while Raymond Hubbard (Sr., Chicago, Cuyamaca CC) added 11 points and seven rebounds. The Broncos shot just 34.3 percent for the game and made only four of 22 3-point attempts. Things went much better the next evening as the Broncos beat Cal State L.A., 73-58. The Broncos allowed only five first-half baskets and led the Golden Eagles, 33-23, at halftime. The Broncos had the lead cut to four points, 58-54, late in the game, but a clutch 9-0 run put the game away. Lucas LeCour (Sr., Las Vegas, Las Vegas HS) scored 19 points to lead the Broncos, while Hubbard added 16 points and nine rebounds. The Broncos shot 53.5 percent from the floor and made 7 of 14 3-point tries.
The Kamansky File: Cal Poly Pomona Head Coach Greg Kamansky 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 31-17.
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 (29.8 per game), assists (3.1 per game) and steals (2.5 per game). LeCour leads the conference in steals, is eighth in assists and 10th in scoring. LeCour led the Broncos with 19 points in the win over Cal State L.A. on Saturday. He equaled a season high with 24 points in the Broncos’ 66-63 loss to Cal State San Bernardino on Jan. 23. LeCour also had 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 13 of the Broncos’ first 21 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.
The Dean Of Defense: Cal Poly Pomona has been benefiting from one of the top defenses in the country and one of the key defenders is guard Marques Montgomery (Sr., Cerritos, Valley Christian HS). Montgomery, in his fourth season with the Broncos, is having a sensational senior season. He displayed his defensive prowess again last week while helping slow down Cal State Dominguez Hills’ guard Jacob Poole, who was coming off back-to-back conference Player of the Week awards. Montgomery was largely responsible for holding Poole to 13 points. He also helped stifle the offenses of Cal State Bakersfield and Cal State Stanislaus two weeks ago and, in games against conference-leading Cal State San Bernardino in late January, he held the CCAA’s Player of the Year, Bobby Burries, to just seven points in each of the two matchups. Montgomery also had a career-high 16 points in the Broncos’ 66-63 loss to the Coyotes in Kellogg Gym on Jan. 23. Montgomery is second on the team in steals and second in assists. He is averaging 25.9 minutes per game, which is also second on the team and is one of just three players to start all 21 games this season.
Everybody Loves Raymond: Senior forward Raymond Hubbard is once again providing instant offense and rebounding muscle off the bench for the Broncos and he enjoyed another impressive weekend last week. Hubbard had 11 points and seven rebounds in the loss at Cal State Dominguez Hills and 16 points and nine rebounds against Cal State L.A. on Saturday. Hubbard has had his best games against Cal State Bakersfield and led the Broncos to their first sweep of the Roadrunners since 1981. He was the CCAA’s Player of the Week after leading the Broncos past the Roadrunners in Bakersfield on Dec. 9 and he dominated the Roadrunners in Kellogg Gym on Feb. 2 with 19 points and three rebounds in 29 stellar minutes. Hubbard is third on the team in scoring (11.2 points per game) and leads the team in rebounding (5.3 per game). While Hubbard has usually been one of the first reserves off the bench, he has also flourished in his two starts. In his second start of the season on Jan. 19 against Sonoma State, Hubbard scored a career-high 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Broncos past the Cossacks, 59-54. Hubbard missed the Jan. 11 loss at UC San Diego because of illness, but was back the next night for the Broncos’ 93-66 win at Grand Canyon. 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 nine of the last 10 games for the Broncos. In his first start, Bonds had a team-high 15 points and four rebounds in a Jan. 11 loss at UC San Diego. 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. He has scored in double figures in 15 of the last 18 games. He is second on the team in scoring with an 11.5 points per game average and is second on the team in rebounding (5.1 per game).
Another Fabulous Freshman: Cal Poly Pomona forward David Sybesma (Fr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) is another freshman stepping up for the Broncos and he got his first start for the Broncos on Saturday night against Cal State L.A. He had three points, two rebounds and two assists. He had a solid performance in the Broncos’ second win over Cal State Bakersfield on Feb. 2, contributing eight points and a season-high eight rebounds. Sybesma led the Broncos in scoring for the first time this season with a 13-point performance against San Francisco State on Jan. 18. He scored a season-high 16 points in the win at Chico State on Jan. 5. Sybesma is currently fifth on the team in scoring and fourth 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. That figure is third in the CCAA and 12th in the nation. The Broncos have held three opponents to 50
points or less. 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 738-734 edge in
rebounding so far. Jeff Bonds leads with 107 rebounds in 21 games, while
Raymond Hubbard has 106 rebounds in 20 games. … Cal Poly Pomona has 186 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 at Cal State Bakersfield. Lucas LeCour leads
the team with 52, including five against Sonoma State.
Coach’s Corner
(About last weekend’s games): “A split was the minimum that we had to do to keep in the playoff race. Obviously, a sweep would have been better, but we got one win and now we have to take care of business at home. We played a very average game against Dominguez and their post players dominated us. That was partly our fault and partly because they are very good. Against L.A., we focused on coming out and playing the style of basketball we want to play. That’s by moving and sharing the ball. All of a sudden, we were getting open looks and knocking them down. Getting ahead early is critical and we came out with more enthusiasm and more focus.”
(About this weekend): “We have to win these home games if we want to stay in the playoff hunt. Three of our next four games are against teams leading the conference in scoring. Chico’s record doesn’t indicate it, but they can play. They took Dominguez into overtime on the road and they beat Davis by 20. They’re a team we can’t overlook for sure. They have two of the better freshmen in the league. They shoot the ball very well and have a good inside presence. Davis is fighting for their lives right now. This is a huge weekend for them, too. Like UC San Diego, they present matchup problems for us because they have big kids who can step out and really shoot. It’s always a war with Davis.
(About the conference race): “We can put Davis away if we win two this weekend and they lose two. We’ve never finished ahead of Davis. We know we have to take it one game at a time. We’re still working on improving as a team. That’s an ongoing process. Every game is important. There are no more steps back now, we need to move forward for good.”
(About the regional rankings): “Our main concern now is on what we need to do to become a better basketball team. I don’t think regional rankings are important until we start winning some games in a row. I really don’t worry about the rankings until the last weekend. We’ve established ourselves as one of the better teams in the CCAA, but we’re still trying to get over the hump. At 14-7, we’re right where we’ve been the past two seasons. We’ll see if this year we can make that final push and win some games at the end of the year. There is still a lot of basketball left. We have to win these next four home games and then we can get excited.”
-- Head Coach Greg Kamansky
PLAYER NOTES
3 JONATHAN WILLIAMS (G, So., Pasadena, Muir HS)
Last Weekend: Had six points, three rebounds and two assists at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday; had four points, two rebounds and one assist at Cal State L.A. on Saturday.
2001-02: Averaging 4.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Has made 21 of 26 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. CS Bakersfield (2-2-02), 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).
2001-02: Averaging 0.8 points, 0.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. Has appeared in five games.
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: Had six points and hit a pair of 3-pointers Saturday at Cal State L.A.; had two points at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday.
2001-02: Averaging 4.9 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. Has started 12 of 21 games.
Season Highs: Points – 14 vs. La Verne (11-28-01); Rebounds – 5 vs. CS Stanislaus (2-1-02), 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 10 points, five rebounds and two assists at Cal State L.A. on Saturday; had three points, four rebounds and two assists at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday.
2001-02: Averaging 5.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists per game.
Season Highs: Points – 16 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (1-23-02), Rebounds – 6 at UC San Diego (1-11-02); Assists: 3 vs. CS Stanislaus (2-1-02), at UC San Diego (1-11-02).
Career Highs: Points - 16 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (1-23-02); 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: DNP-CD in both games.
2001-02: Averaging 2.1 points, 0.8 rebounds, 0.2 assists per game. Has appeared in 11 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. CS Stanislaus (2-1-02), 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 six points and one assists at Cal State L.A. on Saturday; had no points and one rebound at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday.
2001-02: Averaging 4.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.5 assists per game. Has started all 21 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: DNP-CD in both games.
2001-02: Averaging 3.2 points, 0.6 rebounds, 0.3 assists per game. Has appeared in six games.
Season Highs: Points – 9 vs. La Verne (11-28-01); Rebounds – 1 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-1-02), 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: Had 10 points and four rebounds at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday; had six points, two rebounds and two assists at Cal State L.A. on Saturday.
2001-02: Averaging 11.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist per game. Has appeared in 21 games and started in nine of the last 10. Has scored in double figures in 15 of the past 18 games.
Season Highs: Points – 23 at UC Davis (1-4-02); Rebounds – 10 vs. Sonoma State (1-19-02); Assists – 2 at Cal State L.A. (2-9-02), vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-1-02), vs. Dominican College (12-29-01).
Career Highs: First year with Broncos.
DAVID SYBESMA (F, Fr., Corona,
Corona Centennial HS)
Last Weekend: Had three points, two rebounds and two assists in his first start of the season Saturday at Cal State L.A.; had no points and three rebounds at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday.
2001-02: Averaging 5.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists per game. Has appeared in 21 games, started once, and reached double figures in scoring three times.
Season Highs: Points – 16 at Chico State; Rebounds – 8 vs. Cal State Bakersfield (2-2-02); Assists – 4 at UC San Diego (1-11-02).
Career Highs: First year with Broncos.
JAMES CADY (C, Fr.,
Bakersfield, Stockdale HS)
Last Weekend: DNP-CD in both games.
2001-02: Averaging 0.9 points, 1.0 rebound, 0.0 assists per game. Has appeared in eight 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: Had a season-high 16 points and four rebounds at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday; had three points and one rebound at Cal State L.A. on Saturday.
2001-02: Averaging 4.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.3 assists per game. Has appeared in 20 games; started six times.
Season Highs: Points – 16 at Cal State Dominguez Hills (2-8-02); Rebounds – 12 vs. La Verne (11-28-01); Assists – 2 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (1-23-02).
Career Highs: Points – 32 vs. La Verne (12-2-00); Rebounds – 14 vs. La Verne (12-2-00). Assists – 2 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (1-23-02), 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 per game. 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: Had 16 points and nine rebounds at Cal State L.A. on Saturday; had 11 points and seven rebounds at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday.
2001-02: Averaging 11.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists per game. Appeared in 20 games and started twice. Is third on the team in scoring and leads the team 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: Had four points and three rebounds at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday; had no points and one rebound at Cal State L.A. on Saturday.
2001-02: Averaging 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game. Appeared in 18 games and has started 12 times.
Season Highs: Points – 8 vs. Dominican College (12-29-01); Rebounds – 4 at Montana State-Billings (12-22-01); Assists – 1 vs. CS Bakersfield (2-2-02).
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).