CALIFORNIA STATE
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA
Bronco Sports News
For Immediate Release
Feb. 27, 2002
Contact: Paul Helms
(909) 869-2812
MEN’S BASKETBALL
MEDIA NOTES
2001-02 CPP Record: 17-8. CCAA Record: 14-6
2001-02 Regional Ranking: 9
Broncos Have A Chance At A Special Finish: Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s basketball team, after sweeping past Grand Canyon and UC San Diego, is in position to finish with its best record in 20 years. Already, the Broncos have equaled their overall win total of last year and surpassed their conference win total of a year ago, which was 13. The 14 conference wins already ties a Cal Poly Pomona record for most conference wins in a season. The Broncos have guaranteed themselves of no worse than a tie for third place, which would be the program’s best finish since the CCAA was expanded four years ago. Cal Poly Pomona will conclude its regular season with road games at Sonoma State on Friday night and San Francisco State on Saturday night.
Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 12-6 all-time against Sonoma State, including a 59-54 win in Kellogg Gym on Jan. 19. Raymond Hubbard (Sr., Chicago, Cuyamaca CC) had 22 points and seven rebounds for the Broncos, while Jeff Bonds (Fr., Compton, Mayfair HS) had 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Broncos have won five straight games against the Cossacks. Cal Poly Pomona is 15-5 all-time against San Francisco State, including a 69-44 victory over the Gators on Jan. 18 in Kellogg Gym. David Sybesma (Fr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) had a game-high 13 points for the Broncos, while Bonds and Jonathan Williams (So., Pasadena, Muir HS) had 10 points each. The Broncos have won their last three games against the Gators.
About Last Week: The Broncos recorded impressive home victories over Grand Canyon and UC San Diego to keep alive their postseason aspirations. The two wins also helped the Broncos clinch at least a tie for third place. The Broncos began the weekend with an 86-69 victory over Grand Canyon. Cal Poly Pomona raced to a 15-point halftime advantage and never looked back. The game also had some historical significance because guard Lucas LeCour (Sr., Las Vegas, Las Vegas HS) had 18 points and became the Broncos’ career scoring leader. LeCour broke the old mark of 1,270 points by Julian Hammond by knocking down a 3-pointer with 1:04 left in the game that gave him 1,271 points. Jeff Bonds (Fr., Compton, Mayfair HS) matched a season high with 23 points. Marques Montgomery (Sr., Cerritos, Valley Christian HS) added 11 points and a season-high six rebounds, while Steve Lambert (Jr., Covina, Charter Oak HS) had 11 points and four rebounds. The following night, the Broncos honored their eight seniors and then rolled past UC San Diego, 88-66. LeCour, Montgomery, T.J. Williams, Rafael Zielonka, David Erickson, Raymond Hubbard, Jimmy Landry and Jesse Altamirano were recognized for their contributions to the Cal Poly Pomona program. The seniors will leave a program that has posted winning seasons eight straight years, which is the best run in Cal Poly Pomona history. Bonds had his second straight big evening with 23 points and a season-high 12 rebounds to lead the way, while Lambert had 14 points, Sybesma had 13 points, Montgomery had 11 points and Zielonka had a season-high 10 points.
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 34-18.
Leading With Lucas: Senior guard Lucas LeCour is leading the Broncos for a second straight season and re-writing the Cal Poly Pomona record book in the process. LeCour became the program’s all-time leading scorer last weekend, surpassing Julian Hammond’s old mark of 1,270 points after hitting a 3-pointer with 1:04 remaining in the victory Friday night against Grand Canyon. LeCour is tops on the team in scoring (14.2 points per game), minutes played (29.6 per game), assists (3.2 per game) and steals (2.7 per game). LeCour leads the conference in steals, is seventh in assists and 10th in scoring. LeCour has now scored 1,278 points in his Bronco career. He is also the Cal Poly Pomona leader in steals and free throws made and he is currently fourth in assists, third in field goals made and fourth in 3-point field goals made. LeCour has scored in double figures in 16 of the Broncos’ 25 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 has displayed his defensive prowess all season long and was sensational in back-to-back games against conference leader Cal State San Bernardino. 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 tied for second in assists. He is averaging 25.8 minutes per game, which is also second on the team and is one of just three players to start all 25 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. 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 dominated the Roadrunners again in Kellogg Gym on Feb. 2 with 19 points and three rebounds in 29 stellar minutes. Hubbard is third on the team in scoring (10.2 points per game) and second on the team in rebounding (5.2 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) and he was at his best this past weekend. Bonds matched his season high in points in both games against Grand Canyon and UC San Diego with 23 and he set a new season high with 12 rebounds UC San Diego. Bonds has started nine of the last 14 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 17 of the last 22 games. He is second on the team in scoring with an 11.8 points per game average and leads the team in rebounding (5.3 per game).
Another Fabulous Freshman: Cal Poly Pomona forward David Sybesma (Fr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) is another freshman stepping up and he has started the last five games for the Broncos. In his first start for the Broncos against Cal State L.A. on Feb. 9, he had three points, two rebounds and two assists. Sybesma was solid in both games the following weekend, scoring 15 points and grabbing a season-high 10 rebounds against Chico State and scoring 13 points with two rebounds and two assists against UC Davis. He had another fine game against UC San Diego on Saturday, pouring in 13 points and six 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 at Chico State on Jan. 5. Sybesma is currently fourth 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 64.5 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. … Cal Poly Pomona has 227 steals so far this season,
including a season-high 17 against Chico State. The Broncos also had 14 against
San Francisco State, 13 against Sonoma State, 12 at Chico State and 11 at Cal
State Bakersfield. Lucas LeCour leads the team and the conference with 68,
including seven against Chico State.
Coach’s Corner
(About last weekend): “We played very well. Our offense was really clicking and I thought we had strong second halves in both games. We shot better than 50 percent in each game, we took good shots and we took care of the ball.”
(Was there any concern about a letdown after the tough loss to UC Davis): “Any time you lose, there’s a concern about how you will respond. We responded, just like we have all year. We’ve only lost back-to-back games once and that was against Cal State San Bernardino. I’ve said all year this is a very resilient bunch.”
(About Lucas LeCour becoming Cal Poly Pomona’s all-time leading scorer): “I was very pleased. That’s something that he deserves. He’s earned it.”
(About the road games this weekend): “It will be tough on the road. We are all finishing off our seasons and we’ll see how much energy we have left. It will be nice to close out the season with two wins. That would help us take another step forward. If we win one more game, it will be a record (for wins in the conference) and that would be a nice achievement. Finishing third is very significant. It’s something we haven’t done. We competed with the top two teams in the conference – we beat Bakersfield twice and we gave San Bernardino a run for its money. A lot of positive things have happened this year. I’m very pleased.”
(About the possibility of reaching the postseason): “We’re not eliminated yet. Until someone tells us we’re eliminated, we still have a chance. We can’t worry about that. We have to focus on winning these two games because there’s no possibility (of reaching the playoffs) if we don’t win both games.”
-- Head Coach Greg Kamansky
PLAYER NOTES
3 JONATHAN WILLIAMS (G, So., Pasadena, Muir HS)
Last Weekend: Had two points, three rebounds and one assist against Grand Canyon on Friday; went scoreless with two rebounds and two assists against UC San Diego on Saturday.
2001-02: Averaging 4.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Has made 23 of 30 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 0.9 points, 0.3 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Has appeared in seven 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 eight points and three rebounds against Grand Canyon on Friday; had six points against UC San Diego on Saturday.
2001-02: Averaging 5.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. Has started 12 of 25 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 11 points and equaled a season-high with six rebounds against Grand Canyon on Friday; had 11 points, three rebounds and two assists against UC San Diego on Saturday.
2001-02: Averaging 6.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists per game.
Season Highs: Points – 16 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (1-23-02), Rebounds – 6 vs. Grand Canyon (2-22-02), 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 vs. Grand Canyon (2-22-02), 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 four points, one rebound and one assist against UC San Diego on Saturday; had two points against Grand Canyon on Friday.
2001-02: Averaging 2.1 points, 0.7 rebounds, 0.2 assists per game. Has appeared in 12 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. UC San Diego (2-23-02), 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 (Eight Times).
RAFAEL ZIELONKA (F, Sr.,
Anaheim, Servite HS)
Last Weekend: Had a season-high 10 points, one rebound and one assist on Saturday; had two points and one rebound against Grand Canyon on Friday.
2001-02: Averaging 4.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.5 assists per game. Has started all 25 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: Went scoreless with one rebound against UC San Diego on Saturday; DNP-CD against Grand Canyon on Friday.
2001-02: Averaging 2.7 points, 0.7 rebounds, 0.3 assists per game. Has appeared in seven games.
Season Highs: Points – 9 vs. La Verne (11-28-01); Rebounds – 1 vs. UC San Diego (2-23-02), 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 23 points and a season-high 12 rebounds against UC San Diego on Saturday; had 23 points and three rebounds against Grand Canyon on Friday.
2001-02: Averaging 11.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist per game. Has appeared in 25 games and started in nine of the last 14. Has scored in double figures in 17 of the past 22 games.
Season Highs: Points – 23 vs. UC San Diego (2-23-02), vs. Grand Canyon (2-22-02), at UC Davis (1-4-02); Rebounds – 12 vs. UC San Diego (2-23-02); 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 13 points and six rebounds against UC San Diego on Saturday; had two points and two rebounds against Grand Canyon on Friday.
2001-02: Averaging 6.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists per game. Has appeared in 25 games, started five times, and reached double figures in scoring four times.
Season Highs: Points – 16 at Chico State (1-05-02); Rebounds – 10 vs. Chico State (2-15-02); Assists – 4 at UC San Diego (1-11-02).
Career Highs: First year with Broncos.
JAMES CADY (C, Fr.,
Bakersfield, Stockdale HS)
Last Weekend: Went scoreless with one steal against Grand Canyon on Friday; DNP-CD against UC San Diego on Saturday.
2001-02: Averaging 0.8 points, 0.9 rebounds, 0.0 assists per game. Has appeared in nine 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 14 points and four rebounds against UC San Diego on Saturday; had 11 points and four rebounds against Grand Canyon on Friday.
2001-02: Averaging 5.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists per game. Has appeared in 24 games; started eight 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 five points and seven rebounds against Grand Canyon on Friday; went scoreless with one rebound against UC San Diego on Saturday.
2001-02: Averaging 10.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.5 assists per game. Appeared in 24 games and started twice. Is 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: Went scoreless with one rebound against Grand Canyon on Friday; DNP-CD against UC San Diego on Saturday.
2001-02: Averaging 2.7 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game. Appeared in 20 games and has started 14 times.
Season Highs: Points – 8 vs. Chico State (2-15-02), 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).