CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

MEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

 

2003-04 CPP Record: 14-5. 2003-04 CCAA Record: 10-4

2003-04 Regional Ranking: 6

2002-03 NCAA Division II West Region Champions

 

Broncos Will Hit The Road After Two Home Barnburners: Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s basketball team, the 2002-03 NCAA Division II West Region champion, will try to keep the momentum it generated from an exciting weekend of basketball in Kellogg Gym. The Broncos beat Cal State Stanislaus in overtime on Pack the Gym Night on Friday and then knocked off powerful Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday to pull into a four-way tie for second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings. The Broncos are currently tied with Cal State Bakersfield, Chico State and UC Davis in second, four games behind conference leader Cal State San Bernardino. The Broncos will face Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday in the Torodome and will then visit Cal State L.A. on Saturday in key conference games. After a 3-3 start, the Broncos have won 11 of 13 contests. Cal Poly Pomona has also received votes in the NABC/Division II national rankings for the first time since being fifth in the nation in the national preseason poll. 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 enjoyed their most thrilling weekend of the season and pulled into second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association in the process. Cal Poly Pomona opened the weekend with a 75-66 overtime victory over Cal State Stanislaus in front of a record crowd of 1,504 on Pack the Gym Night. David Sybesma (Jr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) had the big shot of the game, a 3-pointer with four seconds remaining that sent the game into overtime. The Broncos then outscored the Warriors, 13-4, in the extra period. Sybesma finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds and recorded his fourth double-double of the season. The Broncos trailed by eight points with just 3:04 left, but five free throws by Bonds and two by Sybesma sliced the deficit to one, 61-60. The Warriors then hit a layup with 12 seconds remaining, setting the stage for Sybesma’s game-saving 3-pointer. Cal Poly Pomona then posted its biggest victory of the season, a 64-61 battle over Cal State Bakersfield. Sybesma broke a 56-56 tie with a drive and layup with 1:44 remaining and the Broncos kept the Roadrunners at bay. Cal Poly Pomona, which was badly outrebounded in Bakersfield in a 57-45 loss on Feb. 6, held its own on Saturday, trailing by just four, 34-30. The Broncos were also the more aggressive team and drew 23 personal fouls on Cal State Bakersfield. Sybesma led the way again with 19 points and six rebounds, while Bonds had 16 points and Jonathan Williams (Sr., Pasadena, John Muir HS) had 14. Hervey Malone II (So., Pittsburg, Pittsburg HS) had eight points and three rebounds. The Broncos trailed by four at halftime, 34-30, and by seven, 51-44, with 12:07 to go. An inside basket by Bonds put the Broncos ahead, 56-55, but only briefly because the Roadrunners quickly tied it with a free throw. Baskets by Sybesma, Malone and Ridgway in the final two minutes won the game for the Broncos.

 

Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 28-28 all-time against Cal State Dominguez Hills, including a 72-62 victory over the Toros in Kellogg Gym on Jan. 24. Antoine Griffin had a game-high 27 points for the Toros, while Jeff Bonds (Jr., Compton, Mayfair HS) and Michael Ridgway (Sr., Houston, TX, Lamar University) had 14 points each to lead the Broncos. The teams split last season with Cal Poly Pomona winning at home, 55-42 and the Toros prevailing in Carson, 67-62. Cal Poly Pomona is 38-37 all-time against Cal State L.A., including a 65-50 win over the Golden Eagles in Kellogg Gym on Jan. 23. Bonds had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Broncos, who outscored the Golden Eagles, 44-25, in the second half. Cal Poly Pomona won both games last season, 79-63, in Kellogg Gym and 84-79 in double overtime in Los Angeles. The Broncos rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit in that one. Guy Beahm (Sr., Willow Glen, West Valley JC) had 22 points and nine rebounds in that contest. The Broncos have won the last eight meetings between the two schools.

 

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 72-31 overall record. His winning percentage of .699 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 is one of the top players in the CCAA again this season. He is second in the conference in scoring with a 16.6 points per game average. He leads the team in scoring and is second in rebounding (5.5 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 stepped up again in the waning seconds of regulation on Friday against Cal State Stanislaus, hitting a 3-pointer with four seconds remaining to send the game into overtime. The Broncos eventually won, 75-66. Sybesma had 22 points and 10 rebounds and followed up on the career-high 27 points he scored against Cal State Stanislaus Jan. 31. He then had 19 points and six rebounds in the Broncos’ 64-61 win over Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday night. For his efforts, Sybesma was named the Wilson California Collegiate Athletic Association Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 2-8. It was Sybesma’s first weekly honor. Sybesma now has four double-doubles in the Broncos’ past seven games. He is second on the team in scoring (14.2 points per game) and he leads the squad in rebounding (5.9 per game). 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.

 

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 64.7 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 are third in the CCAA in shooting percentage (47.1), fourth in scoring and seventh in rebounding. Jeff Bonds (Jr., Compton, Mayfair HS) is second in scoring, 12th in rebounding, ninth in field-goal percentage, 11th in free-throw percentage, 12th in steals and ninth in blocks. David Sybesma (Jr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) is eighth in scoring, ninth in rebounding, third in field-goal percentage and 13th in free-throw percentage.  Jonathan Williams (Sr., Pasadena, John Muir HS) is 27th in scoring, eighth in assists, eighth in 3-point field goals made and 17th in assist/turnover ratio. Michael Ridgway (Sr., Houston, TX, Lamar University) is 13th in assist/turnover ratio and Jonathan Boyd (So., Fontana, Etiwanda HS) is 20th in assist/turnover ratio.

 

PLAYER NOTES

 

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

Last Week: Had 14 points, two rebounds and two assist against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday; had 10 points and two assists against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 10.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Is third on the team in scoring and steals, and leads in assists. Also leads the team in 3-pointers made with 34.

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: Went scoreless with one rebound and one assist against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday; went scoreless against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 0.9 points, 0.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Made Cal Poly Pomona debut against Azusa Pacific on Nov. 21.

Season Highs: Points – 5 at Cal State Stanislaus (1-31-04); Rebounds – 1 at Cal State Stanislaus (1-31-04), 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), vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04); 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: Had three points against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday; went scoreless with one rebound and one assist against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 0.9 points, 0.4 rebounds and 1.1 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 six points and three rebounds against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday; had one point and two rebounds against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 5.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Has started eight times in the Broncos’ first 19 games. Is sixth on the team in scoring, fourth 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 eight points and three rebounds against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday; went scoreless with a career-high seven rebounds and one assist against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 5.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Is fifth on the team in scoring and fourth in steals.

Season Highs: Points – 16 vs. Western Washington (12-17-03); Rebounds – 7 vs. Cal State Stanislaus; Assists – 5 at Hope International (11-22-03).

Career Highs: Points – 16 vs. Western Washington (12-17-03); Rebounds 7 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04); 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 two points and one assist against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday; had two points, went scoreless against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 3.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.9 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 12 points, seven rebounds and one assist against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday; went scoreless with four rebounds against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 6.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Is fourth on the team in scoring and third in rebounding.

Season Highs: Points – 13 at Cal State Bakersfield (1-30-04); 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, seven rebounds and one assist against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday; had 16 points, six rebounds and one assist against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 16.6 points, 5.5 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 at Cal State Bakersfield (1-30-04); Assists – 4 at Cal State Bakersfield (1-30-04), 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 22 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, four steals and made a three-pointer that sent the game into overtime against Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday; had 19 points, six rebounds and two assists against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 14.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Is second on the team in scoring and leads the team in rebounding. Has four double-doubles in the past six games.

Season Highs: Points – 27 at Cal State Stanislaus (1-31-04); Rebounds – 10 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04), at Cal State Stanislaus (1-31-04), 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 – 27 at Cal State Stanislaus (1-31-04); Rebounds – 10 vs. Cal State Stanislaus (2-6-04), at Cal State Stanislaus (1-31-04), 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: DNP-CD.

2003-04: Averaging 3.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

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: Had four points and two rebounds against Cal State Stanislaus on Friday; had three points and one assist against Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 4.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 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 – 6 at Cal State Stanislaus (1-31-04); 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 (2-10-04)

CCAA                                                    Overall

                                                W            L             Pct.                         W            L             Pct.

CS San Bernardino        14         0          1.000                18         1          .947

Cal Poly Pomona          10         4          .714                  14         5          .737

Cal State Bakersfield     10         4          .714                  14         5          .737

Chico State                   10         4          .714                  13         6          .684

UC Davis                      10         4          .714                  13         6          .684

San Francisco State      7          7          .500                  9          9          .500

Sonoma State               6          8          .429                  7          12         .368

UC San Diego               5          9          .357                  5          14         .263

CS Dominguez Hills      4          10         .286                  6          13         .316

Cal State L.A.                3          11         .214                  6          13         .316

Cal State Stanislaus       3          11         .214                  5          14         .263

Grand Canyon               2          12         .143                  3          16         .158