CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

MEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

 

2003-04 CPP Record: 11-4. 2003-04 CCAA Record: 7-3

2003-04 Regional Ranking: 7

2002-03 NCAA Division II West Region Champions

 

Broncos Will Try To Extend Three-Game Win Streak: Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s basketball team, the 2002-03 NCAA Division II West Region champion, will try stretch its season-best five-game win streak, but the Broncos will have to do it on one of the toughest road trips in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Cal Poly Pomona will face perennial powerhouse Cal State Bakersfield on Friday and Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday. In an unusual scheduling twist, the Broncos will face the two teams again next weekend, but in reverse order. Cal Poly Pomona will host Cal State Stanislaus on Friday, Feb. 6 on Pack the Gym Night and then entertain Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday, Feb. 7. Cal Poly Pomona, after a weekend sweep of Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills, has won five straight games and eight of its last nine. The five-game streak is the second-longest current string in the conference. The Broncos are coming off one of the best seasons in the program’s history. Cal Poly Pomona won the West Regional and advanced to the national quarterfinals for only the second time in the program’s history and the first time since 1964. The 23 wins tied the program mark for most victories, also set by the 1964 squad. Cal Poly Pomona returns all five starters and its top six scorers from last year’s regional championship team. Jeff Bonds (Jr., Compton, Mayfair HS), the Most Outstanding Player of the West Regional, has been selected by Street & Smith’s as a preseason honorable mention All-American. He was a first-team All-CCAA pick last season. David Sybesma (Jr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) and Jonathan Williams (Sr., Pasadena, John Muir HS), who both earned second-team All-CCAA honors, are also back.

 

About Last Week: The Broncos played two strong defensive games and posted victories over Southern California rivals Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills. Cal Poly Pomona struggled early against the Golden Eagles on Friday and trailed 25-21 at halftime. The Broncos, though, outscored Cal State L.A., 44-25, in the second half to pick up an important victory. Jeff Bonds (Jr., Compton, Mayfair HS) had 19 points and nine rebounds to lead the Broncos, while David Sybesma (Jr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) had 14 points and four rebounds. Guy Beahm (Sr., Willow Glen, West Valley JC) added 11 points. Jonathan Williams (Sr., Pasadena, John Muir HS) added nine points, five rebounds and three assists. The victory came at a heavy cost, though, because Melvyn Nicholson (So., Long Beach, Millikan HS) suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first half of the game. Nicholson had developed this season into one of the Broncos’ top reserves. Cal Poly Pomona had another strong performance down the stretch on Saturday as the Broncos wore down Cal State Dominguez Hills, 72-62. The game was tied at 47-47 with 9:53 to go, but Cal Poly Pomona scored the next eight points and led the rest of the way. Bonds and Michael Ridgway (Sr., Houston, TX, Lamar University) led the Broncos with 14 points each. Sybesma recorded his second double-double in three games with 10 point sand 10 rebounds. Cal Poly Pomona’s reserves outscored Cal State Dominguez Hills’ reserves, 30-14. In addition to Ridgway’s 14 points, Dion Cook (Fr., Canoga Park, Chaminade HS) and Jonathan Boyd (So., Fontana, Etiwanda HS) had seven points each and Jason Burrell (Fr., Rancho Cucamonga, St. Mark’s Prep) had two points.

 

Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 20-46 all-time against Cal State Bakersfield, but won all three meetings last season, including a 62-49 victory in the NCAA Division II West Region playoffs. The Broncos have won the last five meetings between the two programs, which is Cal Poly Pomona’s longest win streak in the series. The Broncos defeated the Roadrunners, 72-65, in Kellogg Gym last season behind 15 points from Jonathan Williams. Cal Poly Pomona then posted a come-from-behind 67-62 win over the Roadrunners on March 8 in Bakersfield in the regular season finale. Jeff Bonds (Jr., Compton, Mayfair HS) had 21 points and the Broncos rallied from an 18-point, first-half deficit to win. The teams met again in the second round of the NCAA playoffs at BYU-Hawaii and the Broncos won, 62-49. Bonds had 20 points in that one. Cal Poly Pomona is 8-3 all-time against Cal State Stanislaus and split two games last season. The Broncos prevailed in Kellogg Gym, 68-54, behind 22 points from Bonds. The Warriors won the rematch in Turlock, 72-68. Guy Beahm (Sr., Willow Glen, West Valley JC) had 23 points to lead the Broncos.

 

Pomona Is Title Town: Cal Poly Pomona basketball teams have won regional basketball championships three straight seasons. The Bronco women won regional titles in 2001 and 2002 on their way to NCAA Division II championships. The Bronco men captured the regional title in 2003 on their way to the Elite Eight. No other basketball program in the West Region can match that success.

 

Coaches Make Broncos The Favorites: Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s basketball team has been picked to win the California Collegiate Athletic Association championship in voting done by the conference coaches. The Broncos, who finished second with a 16-6 conference mark last year and return their top six scorers, received nine first-place votes to outdistance four-time defending conference champion Cal State San Bernardino, which finished second in the voting. Cal Poly Pomona is seeking its first CCAA title since 1981 and only its second overall. Cal State Bakersfield was third in the balloting and Chico State was fourth.

 

Where We Left Off: Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s basketball team finished the 2002-03 season with a 23-7 record (Kentucky Wesleyan later forfeited its win over the Broncos in the Elite Eight). The Broncos finished second in the CCAA with a 16-6 mark and set a new program record for most conference wins in a season. Cal Poly Pomona, the fourth seed in the West Region, beat No. 5 Alaska Fairbanks, 80-76, in its first playoff game since 1976. The Broncos then beat Cal State Bakersfield in the semifinals, 62-49, before rallying from a 19-point second-half deficit to topple CCAA champion Cal State San Bernardino, 91-84, in double overtime in the regional championship game. Cal Poly Pomona lost to Kentucky Wesleyan, 85-60, in the Elite Eight in Lakeland, Fla.

 

How The West Was Won: Cal Poly Pomona entered the NCAA Division II West Regional at BYU Hawaii as the fourth seed and won three straight games to capture the title. The three postseason victories set a single-season program record. The Broncos opened the playoffs in their first NCAA Division II postseason game since 1976 with an 80-76 win over No. 5 seed Alaska Fairbanks. Guy Beahm (Sr., Willow Glen, West Valley JC) led four Broncos in double figures with 15 points and hit a key jumper late in the game to help the Broncos preserve their lead. Cal Poly Pomona then knocked off No. 8 seed Cal State Bakersfield, 62-49, beating the Roadrunners for the third straight time last season and the fifth straight time overall. The game was tied at 42-42 with 8:44 left, but the Broncos went on a 12-4 run over the next six minutes to take control of the game. Jeff Bonds (Jr., Compton, Mayfair HS) had 20 points and six rebounds, while David Sybesma (Jr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. The tournament championship game was a classic and Cal Poly Pomona ousted CCAA champion and No. 2 seed Cal State San Bernardino, 91-84, in double overtime to win the regional. Sybesma’s buzzer-beater at the end of regulation capped a miraculous comeback from a 46-27 deficit with 16:17 to go. The Broncos trailed by three points late in the first overtime, but tied it on a 3-pointer by Bonds. In the second overtime, the Broncos outscored the Coyotes, 17-10. Bonds had a career game, pouring in 31 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Sybesma added 17 points and Michael Ridgway (Sr., Houston, TX, Lamar University) hit all six of his field-goal attempts and all four of his free throws for 17 big points off the bench. Bonds was named the West Regional Most Outstanding Player, while Sybesma was also named to the five-player All-Tournament team.

 

The Kamansky File: Cal Poly Pomona Head Coach Greg Kamansky is in his fourth season as the leader of the Broncos. Kamansky has guided the Broncos to a 69-30 overall record. His winning percentage of .697 is the best in the program’s history. He led the Broncos to a 23-7 record last season and the program’s first appearance in the national quarterfinals in 39 years. The Broncos were 16-6 in the CCAA and finished second, which is the best finish for Cal Poly Pomona since the conference expanded five years ago. The 16 conference wins were also a new record. 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 three 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 (Jr., Compton, Mayfair HS) led the Broncos in scoring last year with a 14.4 points per game average and he elevated his game in the postseason, averaging 19.5 points per game in the Broncos’ four playoff contests. The highlight was a career-high 31-point outburst that helped the Broncos defeat Cal State San Bernardino, 91-84, in double overtime in the regional championship game. He also scored 20 points in the 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. He was also named to the All-CCAA first team. He has gotten his 2003-04 season off to a quick start, scoring 260 points in the Broncos’ first 15 games. Bonds leads the team in scoring (17.3 points per game) and is second in rebounding (5.1 per game). He had a season-high 26 points against Hope International and he had 24 points, including a miraculous buzzer-beating 3-pointer against North Dakota State on Nov. 28 that sent the game into overtime. He had a game-high 20 points against Cal State San Bernardino on Dec. 13 and he had a team-high 21 points against Western Washington on Dec. 17.

 

Fired Up About Sybesmania: Cal Poly Pomona forward David Sybesma (Jr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) returns for his third season with the Broncos after making 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 last 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 contest. Sybesma was also named to the All-CCAA second team. He, too, has started well this season. He had a career-high 21 points against Hope International and he added 20 points in the Broncos’ overtime win over North Dakota State. He had another strong game against Cal State San Bernardino on Dec. 13 with 19 points and he had 17 points in the win over Western Washington on Dec. 17. Sybesma has two double-doubles in the Broncos’ past three games. He had 10 points and 10 rebounds against San Francisco State on Jan. 17 and he had 10 points and 10 rebounds against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday. He is second on the team in scoring (12.9 points per game) and he leads the team in rebounding (5.7 per game).

 

Look Who’s New: The Broncos are welcoming three first-year players to their active roster this season. Dion Cook (Fr., Canoga Park, Chaminade HS) is a 6-foot-4 guard who is making an immediate impact and seeing his playing time steadily increase. Billy Hofman (Fr., Sierra Madre, La Canada HS) is playing some important minutes at point guard and Jason Burrell (Fr., Rancho Cucamonga, St. Mark’s Prep) is another freshman who has seen playing time for the Broncos this season.

 

This And That: The Broncos set a new school record for defensive excellence last season for the third straight year, allowing only 63.5 points per game. So far this season, the Broncos are allowing 66.0 points per game and opponents are shooting 44.1 percent (340-771). The Broncos return their top six scorers from last season: Jeff Bonds (14.4 points per game), David Sybesma (10.7 points per game), Jonathan Williams (9.7 points per game), Michael Ridgway (8.6 points per game), Guy Beahm (7.4 points per game) and Hervey Malone II (6.7 points per game). In all, Cal Poly Pomona returns 87.8 percent of its scoring from a year ago. In conference statistics, the Broncos lead the CCAA in shooting percentage (48.4) and are third in rebounding. Jeff Bonds (Jr., Compton, Mayfair HS) is second in scoring, 16th in rebounding, sixth in field-goal percentage and 19th in free-throw shooting. David Sybesma (Jr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) is 12th in scoring, tied for 10th in rebounding and fifth in field-goal percentage, while Jonathan Williams (Sr., Pasadena, John Muir HS) is 19th in scoring, eighth in assists and fourth in 3-pointers and 13th in assist/turnover ratio. Dion Cook (Fr., Canoga Park, Chaminade HS) is 14th in assist/turnover ratio.

 

PLAYER NOTES

 

3          JONATHAN WILLIAMS (G, Sr., Pasadena, Muir HS)

Last Week: Had nine points, four rebounds, and two assists against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday; had nine points, three rebounds and five assists against Cal State L.A. on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 11.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Is third on the team in scoring, leads in assists and is second in steals. Also leads the team in 3-pointers made with 31.

Season Highs: Points – 20 vs. Western Washington (12-17-03); Rebounds – 6 at Hope International (11-22-03); Assists – 6 at Hope International (11-22-03).

Career Highs: Points – 20 vs. Western Washington (12-17-03), at Cal State L.A. (2-7-03); Rebounds – 7 at Cal State L.A. (2-7-03), at Cal State San Bernardino (12-21-02); Assists – 8 at UC San Diego (3-3-01).

 

5          JASON BURRELL (G, Fr., Rancho Cucamonga, St. Mark’s Prep)

Last Week: Had two points and two assists against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday; DNP-CD against Cal State L.A. on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 0.6 points, 0.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Made Cal Poly Pomona debut against Azusa Pacific on Nov. 21.

Season Highs: Points – 2 vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-24-04), at San Francisco State (1-17-04); Rebounds – 1 at Sonoma State (1-16-04), at Grand Canyon (1-10-04), vs. Chico State (1-2-04), at Cal State San Bernardino (12-2-03); Assists – 2 vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-24-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

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

Last Week: Went scoreless in 13 minutes against Cal State L.A. on Friday; DNP-CD against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 1.0 points, 0.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Made Cal Poly Pomona debut against Hope International on Nov. 22.

Season Highs: Points – 4 vs. Western Washington (12-17-03); Rebounds – 1 at Grand Canyon (1-10-04), vs. Chico State (1-2-04), vs. Western Washington (12-17-03), at Cal State San Bernardino (12-2-03); Assists – 3 vs. Chico State (1-2-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

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

Last Week: Had seven points and one rebound against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday; had two points, three rebounds and one assist against Cal State L.A. on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 6.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Has started seven times in the Broncos’ first 15 games. Is fourth on the team in scoring, tied for second in assists and third in 3-point field goals made.

Season Highs: Points – 13 vs. Chico State (1-2-04), vs. Western Washington (12-17-03); Rebounds – 5 vs. Chico State (1-2-04), vs. Western Washington (12-17-03), vs. North Dakota State (11-28-03). Assists – 4 at UC San Diego (1-9-04).

Career Highs: Points – 13 vs. vs. Chico State (1-2-04), vs. Western Washington (12-17-03); Rebounds – 5 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, So., Pittsburgh, Pittsburg HS)

Last Week: Had seven points, one rebound and one assist against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday; had five points, two rebounds and one assist against Cal State L.A. on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 6.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Sixth on the team in scoring and tied for third in steals.

Season Highs: Points – 16 vs. Western Washington (12-17-03); Rebounds – 4 vs. Western Washington (12-17-03), at Hope International (11-22-03); Assists – 5 at Hope International (11-22-03).

Career Highs: Points – 16 vs. Western Washington (12-17-03); Rebounds – 6 vs. Kentucky Wesleyan (3-26-03); at Western Washington (11-30-02); Assists – 5 at Hope International (11-22-03), vs. Alaska Fairbanks (3-14-03).

 

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

Last Week: Had seven points, five rebounds and two assists against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday; had three points, two rebounds and one assist against Cal State L.A. on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 3.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game. Made his Cal Poly Pomona debut against Azusa Pacific (11-21-03).

Season Highs: Points – 9 at Sonoma State (1-16-04); Rebounds – 5 vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-24-04); Assists – 3 at Sonoma State (1-16-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

23        GUY BEAHM (F, Sr., Willow Glen, West Valley JC)

Last Week: Had 11 points, six rebounds and five assists against Cal State L.A. on Friday; had two points, six rebounds and two assists against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 6.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Is fifth on the team in scoring and third in rebounding.

Season Highs: Points – 12 vs. UC Davis (1-3-04); Rebounds – 8 at UC San Diego (1-9-04); Assists – 5 vs. Cal State L.A. (1-23-04), at Vanguard (11-25-03).

Career Highs: Points – 23 at Cal State Stanislaus (3-7-03); Rebounds – 14 at Cal State Stanislaus (3-7-03); Assists – 6 at UC Davis (1-11-03).

 

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

Last Week: Had 19 points, nine rebounds and one assist against Cal State L.A. on Friday; had 14 points, five rebounds and one assist against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 17.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Leads the team in scoring and steals and is second in rebounding.

Season Highs: Points – 26 at Hope International (11-22-03); Rebounds – 9 vs. Cal State L.A. (1-23-04); Assists – 4 at Cal State San Bernardino (12-2-03).

Career Highs: Points – 31 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (3-17-03); Rebounds – 12 vs. Montana State-Billings (12-30-02); Assists – 6 vs. Montana State-Billings (12-30-02).

 

33        DAVID SYBESMA (F/G, Jr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS)

Last Week: Had 10 points and 10 rebounds against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday; had 14 points, four rebounds and one assist against Cal State L.A. on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 12.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Is second on the team in scoring and leads the team in rebounding.

Season Highs: Points – 21 at Hope International (11-22-03); Rebounds – 10 at San Francisco State (1-17-04), vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-24-04); Assists – 5 vs. Chico State (1-2-04).

Career Highs: Points – 21 at Hope International (11-22-03); Rebounds – 10 vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-24-04),at San Francisco State (1-17-04), vs. Cal State Bakersfield (3-15-03), vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-3-03); Assists – 7 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-1-03).

 

42        MELVYN NICHOLSON (F, So., Long Beach, Millikan HS)

Last Week: Suffered season-ending injury against Cal State LA on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 3.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Has made 24 of 32 field-goal attempts.

Season Highs: Points – 10 at San Francisco State (1-17-04); Rebounds – 4 vs. Chico State (1-2-04); Assists – 2 at Sonoma State (1-16-04).

Career Highs: Points – 10 at San Francisco State (1-17-04); Rebounds – 4 vs. Chico State (1-2-04); Assists – 2 at Sonoma State (1-16-04).

 

44        MICHAEL RIDGWAY (F, Sr., Houston, TX, Lamar University)

Last Week: Scored a season-high 14 points to go along with four rebounds and two assists against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday; had two points and three rebounds against Cal State L.A. on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 4.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Has made three starts this season. Made beautiful length-of-the-court inbounds pass to set up Jeff Bonds’ game-tying buzzer-beater against North Dakota State on Nov. 28.

Season Highs: Points – 14 vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-24-04); Rebounds – 5 vs. Western Washington (12-17-03); Assists – 4 vs. North Dakota State (11-28-03).

Career Highs: Points – 21 at UC Davis (1-11-03); Rebounds – 7 at Cal State San Bernardino (12-14-02), vs. Cal State San Bernardino (12-7-02); Assists – 4 vs. North Dakota State (11-28-03).

 

2003-04 CCAA STANDINGS (1-24-04)

CCAA                                                    Overall

                                                W            L             Pct.                         W            L             Pct.

CS San Bernardino        10         0          1.000                14         1          .933

Cal State Bakersfield     9          1          .900                  13         2          .867

Cal Poly Pomona          7          3          .700                  11         4          .733

Chico State                   6          4          .600                  9          6          .600

UC Davis                      6          4          .600                  9          6          .600

San Francisco State      5          5          .500                  7          7          .500

CS Dominguez Hills      4          6          .400                  6          9          .400

UC San Diego               4          6          .400                  4          11         .267

Cal State L.A.                3          7          .300                  6          9          .400

CS Stanislaus                3          7          .300                  5          10         .333

Sonoma State               2          8          .200                  3          12         .200

Grand Canyon               1          9          .100                  2          13         .133