CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2003

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

MEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

2003-04 CPP Record: 3-2. 2003-04 CCAA Record: 0-1

2003-04 Preseason National Ranking: 5

2002-03 NCAA Division II West Region Champions

Broncos Look To Get Back On Track This Weekend: Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s basketball team, the 2002-03 NCAA Division II West Region champion, will look to avenge a conference-opening loss to four-time defending California Collegiate Athletic Association champion Cal State San Bernardino when they host the Coyotes on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Kellogg Gym. The Broncos, who are ranked fifth in a pair of preseason polls and second by Street & Smith’s, are off to a 3-2 start in 2003-04, which is the same record the Broncos had after five games of the 2002-03 season. 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, also return.

About Last Week: The Broncos stumbled out of the gates in California Collegiate Athletic Association action, falling to a revenge-minded Cal State San Bernardino team, 67-49, last Tuesday in San Bernardino. Cal Poly Pomona scored its fewest points since a 63-48 loss to Sonoma State on Jan. 24, 2003. The Broncos shot only 37 percent from the floor (17-of-46) and made only four of 16 attempts from behind the 3-point arc. Cal State San Bernardino, meanwhile, shot 54 percent from the field (25-of-46) and knocked down an amazing 11 of 19 from behind the 3-point arc (58 percent). The Coyotes were especially stingy after the break, allowing only 22 second-half points to the Broncos. Guy Beahm (Sr., Willow Glen, West Valley JC) had 11 points and three rebounds for the Broncos, while Hervey Malone II (So., Pittsburg, Pittsburg HS) had 10 points and knocked down a pair of 3-point tries. All-America candidate Jeff Bonds (Jr., Compton, Mayfair HS) had his lowest scoring output of the season, six points, although he did have a team-high four assists. David Sybesma (Jr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) and Jonathan Williams (Sr., Pasadena, John Muir HS) had six points each as well. The teams were even on the boards, 26-26.

Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 15-13 all-time against Cal State San Bernardino after last week’s 67-49 defeat. The Broncos won two of the three meetings last season, including the big one: a 91-84 decision in the NCAA Division II West Regional championship game that sent the Broncos to the national quarterfinals (Elite Eight) for the first time since 1964. The Broncos won at Kellogg Gym, 68-64, and Cal State San Bernardino prevailed in San Bernardino, 72-64. The third meeting, at BYU-Hawaii, was a classic and the Broncos won thanks to a huge game from tourney MVP Jeff Bonds (Jr., Compton, Mayfair HS) and a last-second shot by David Sybesma (Jr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) at the end of regulation that sent the game into overtime. Cal State San Bernardino, which has won four straight CCAA titles, is 3-1 so far this season.

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 from a year ago, 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 61-28 overall record. His winning percentage of .685 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 upend 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 named to the All-CCAA first team. He has gotten his 2003-04 season off to a quick start, scoring 85 points in the Broncos’ first four games. 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. He was held to six points on Tuesday by Cal State San Bernardino, but has scored 20 or more points in seven of his last 11 games dating back to last season.

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 game. 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, too, was held to six points by Cal State San Bernardino last Tuesday.

Look Who’s New: The Broncos are welcoming four players to their program this season. Dion Cook (Fr., Canoga Park, Chaminade HS) is a 6-foot-4 guard who is expected to make an immediate impact. Billy Hofman (Fr., Sierra Madre, La Canada HS) is expected to see playing time at point guard. Jason Burrell (Fr., Rancho Cucamonga, St. Mark’s Prep) and Sinqua Walls (Fr., El Segundo, El Segundo HS) are two other freshman who will make a difference for the Broncos.

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 65.4 points per game and opponents are shooting nearly 50 percent (119-239). 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.

PLAYER NOTES

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

Last Week: Had six points, three rebounds and one assist at Cal State San Bernardino last Tuesday.

2003-04: Averaging 11.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Is third on the team in scoring, third in rebounding and first in assists.

Season Highs: Points – 19 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-21-03); Rebounds – 6 at Hope International (11-22-03); Assists – 6 at Hope International (11-22-03).

Career Highs: Points – 20 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 in seven minutes at Cal State San Bernardino last Tuesday.

2003-04: Averaging 0.2 points, 0.2 rebounds and 0.0 assists per game. Made Cal Poly Pomona debut against Azusa Pacific on Nov. 21.

Season Highs: Points – 1 at Hope International (11-22-03); Rebounds – 1 at Cal State San Bernardino (12-2-03); Assists – 0.

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

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

Last Week: Went scoreless with one rebound and one assist at Cal State San Bernardino last Tuesday.

2003-04: Averaging 0.7 points, 0.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Made Cal Poly Pomona debut against Hope International on Nov. 22.

Season Highs: Points – 2 at Hope International (11-22-03); Rebounds – 1 at Cal State San Bernardino (12-2-03); Assists – 2 at Hope International (11-22-03).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

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

Last Week: Had three points, three rebounds and two assists at Cal State San Bernardino last Tuesday.

2003-04: Averaging 4.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Made his third career start at Hope International on Nov. 22.

Season Highs: Points – 7 vs. North Dakota State (11-28-03); Rebounds – 5 vs. North Dakota State (11-28-03); Assists – 2 at Cal State San Bernardino (12-2-03), vs. North Dakota State (11-28-03).

Career Highs: Points – 11 vs. Alaska Fairbanks (3-14-03); Rebounds – 5 vs. North Dakota State (11-28-03), at San Francisco State (2-28-03); Assists – 3 vs. Chico State (2-15-03).

20 HERVEY MALONE II (G, So., Pittsburgh, Pittsburg HS)

Last Week: Had season-high 10 points, two rebounds and one assist at Cal State San Bernardino last Tuesday.

2003-04: Averaging 5.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Fifth on the team in scoring.

Season Highs: Points – 8 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-21-03); Rebounds – 4 at Hope International (11-22-03); Assists – 5 at Hope International (11-22-03).

Career Highs: Points – 13 at UC San Diego (1-18-03), vs. Cal State L.A. (1-4-03), vs. Saint Martin’s College (11-29-02); 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 two points, one rebound and one steal at Cal State San Bernardino last Tuesday.

2003-04: Averaging 2.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 6 at Hope International (11-22-03); Rebounds – 4 at Hope International (11-22-03); Assists – 2 at Vanguard (11-25-03)

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

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

Last Week: Had team-high 11 points and three rebounds at Cal State San Bernardino last Tuesday.

2003-04: Averaging 9.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. Is fourth on the team in scoring and third in assists.

Season Highs: Points – 11 at Cal State San Bernardino (12-2-03), at Vanguard (11-25-03); Rebounds – 5 vs. North Dakota State (11-28-03); Assists – 5 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 six points, one rebound and four assists at Cal State San Bernardino last Tuesday.

2003-04: Averaging 18.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Leads the team in scoring and steals and is second in rebounding. Has scored 20 or more points in seven of last 11 games dating back to last season.

Season Highs: Points – 26 at Hope International (11-22-03); Rebounds – 7 vs. North Dakota State (11-28-03); 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 six points, three rebounds and one assist at Cal State San Bernardino last Tuesday.

2003-04: Averaging 13.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.0 assist 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 – 9 vs. North Dakota State (11-28-03); Assists – 2 at Hope International (11-22-03).

Career Highs: Points – 21 at Hope International (11-22-03); Rebounds – 10 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: Had two points and three rebounds at Cal State San Bernardino last Tuesday.

2003-04: Averaging 3.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.0 assists per game. Has made eight of 10 field-goal attempts.

Season Highs: Points – 6 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-21-03); Rebounds – 3 at Cal State San Bernardino (1`2-2-03), at Vanguard (11-25-03); Assists – 0

Career Highs: Points – 6 vs. Azusa Pacific (11-21-03); Rebounds – 3 at Vanguard (11-25-03); Assists -- 0

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

Last Week: Had three points, three rebounds and one assist at Cal State San Bernardino last Tuesday.

2003-04: Averaging 4.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Has made two 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 – 9 at Vanguard (11-25-03); Rebounds – 4 vs. North Dakota State (11-28-03), at Vanguard (11-25-03); 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).