ROHNERT PARK ¾ Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s basketball team took another step forward
Friday night.
The Broncos rallied past Sonoma State, 67-62, and locked up
third place in the CCAA. Cal Poly Pomona (18-8, 15-6) will finish third for the
first time since the CCAA expanded in the 1998-99 season and the 15 conference
wins sets a new standard for the program. The Broncos can reach 19 wins for the
first time since the 1980-81 season with a victory Saturday night.
Cal Poly Pomona won the game with a balanced scoring attack.
Lucas LeCour (Sr., Las Vegas, Las Vegas HS), already the program’s all-time
leading scorer, had 13 points and six steals and shared high-point honors with
one of the Broncos’ young stars, Jeff Bonds (Fr., Compton, Mayfair HS), who had
13 points and three rebounds. David Sybesma (Fr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS)
added 10 points and five rebounds, while Raymond Hubbard (Sr., Chicago,
Cuyamaca CC) had 10 points and four rebounds.
LeCour now has 1,291 points in his Cal Poly Pomona career.
Cal Poly Pomona trailed at halftime, 34-27, but shot a sizzling
59.1 percent from the floor in the second half. The Broncos were also effective
from the free-throw line, where they made 14 of 18 tries. Sonoma State, by
contrast, hit only five of its 12 attempts.
The Broncos were outrebounded, 29-27, but forced 23 turnovers.
Cal Poly Pomona got a pair of big 3-pointers from T.J. Williams
(Sr., Dana Point, Santa Margarita HS), who finished with six points. Steve
Lambert (Jr., Covina, Charter Oak HS) added seven points and five rebounds for
the Broncos.
The Broncos, who are ranked eighth in the NCAA Division II West
Region, are still holding on to playoff
hopes. To reach the NCAA playoffs for the first time since 1976, the Broncos
will need a win Saturday night at San Francisco State and then get some help.