CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

MEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

 

2003-04 CPP Record: 9-4. 2003-04 CCAA Record: 5-3

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 to continue its winning ways when the Broncos return home for a pair of key California Collegiate Athletic Association contests. Cal Poly Pomona will host Cal State L.A. on Friday, Jan. 23 and Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday, Jan. 24 in Kellogg Gym. The Broncos played their last four games on the road and went 3-1 in that stretch. After losing at UC San Diego, 65-64, on Jan. 9, the Broncos won games at Grand Canyon, Sonoma State and San Francisco State. Cal Poly Pomona has won six of its last seven games after starting the season with a 3-3 mark. 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 traveled to Northern California and came away with a pair of important victories. Cal Poly Pomona held off a late Sonoma State rally on Friday and defeated the Seawolves, 74-64. The Broncos had leads as large as 17 points and still held a 16-point lead, 64-48, with 4:57 remaining. Sonoma State then went on a 15-2 run over the next three minutes to cut the advantage to 66-63. The Broncos, though, held Sonoma State without a field goal the rest of the way and extended their lead with free throws by David Sybesma (Jr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS), Jeff Bonds (Jr., Compton, Mayfair HS), Jonathan Boyd (So., Fontana, Etiwanda HS) and Jonathan Williams (Sr., Pasadena, John Muir HS). Bonds had 19 points and four rebounds to lead the Broncos. He made six of seven field-goal attempts, all three of his attempts behind the 3-point arc and four of six free throws. Williams had 15 points and three assists and Boyd had 10 points and two assists. Dion Cook (Fr., Canoga Park, Chaminade HS) had nine first-half points on a pair of 3-pointers and three free throws. Cal Poly Pomona then turned in its best defensive performance of the season in a 61-49 win over San Francisco State on Saturday. The 49 points were a season low for Cal Poly Pomona opponents. The Broncos limited the Gators to just 31.7 percent shooting. Williams had 16 points, 14 of them in the second half. He hit three 3-pointers in the second half to help the Broncos extend a 24-22 halftime lead. Sybesma recorded his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Melvyn Nicholson (So., Long Beach, Millikan HS) had a career-high 10 points and two rebounds. Bonds had eight points, Hervey Malone II (So., Pittsburg, Pittsburg HS) had five points and Guy Beahm (Sr., Willow Glen, West Valley JC) had four points and seven rebounds. The Bronco bench – Nicholson, Cook, Boyd, Jason Burrell (Fr., Rancho Cucamonga, St. Mark’s Prep) and Michael Ridgway (Sr., Houston, TX, Lamar University) – outscored San Francisco’s bench, 18-0.

 

Head To Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 37-37 all-time against Cal State L.A. and won both contests last season. The Broncos prevailed, 79-63, on Jan. 4 in Kellogg Gym behind 18 points from David Sybesma (Jr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS). Cal Poly Pomona rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit and beat the Golden Eagles in double overtime, 84-79, on Feb. 7 in Los Angeles. Guy Beahm (Sr., Willow Glen, West Valley JC) had 22 points and nine rebounds for the Broncos. Cal Poly Pomona is 27-28 all-time against Cal State Dominguez Hills and the teams split games last season for the second straight year. Cal Poly Pomona won the first meeting in Kellogg Gym on Jan. 3, 55-42, behind 14 points from Michael Ridgway (Sr., Houston, TX, Lamar University). The Toros won the rematch in Carson, 67-62, on Feb. 8. Jeff Bonds (Jr., Compton, Mayfair HS) had 19 points and seven rebounds.

 

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 67-30 overall record. His winning percentage of .691 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 227 points in the Broncos’ first 13 games. Bonds leads the team in scoring (17.5 points per game) and is second in rebounding (4.8 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. He is second on the team in scoring (13.0 points per game) and he leads the team in rebounding (5.2 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 67.5 points per game and opponents are shooting 45.2 percent (220-442). 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 fourth in rebounding. Jeff Bonds (Jr., Compton, Mayfair HS) is second in scoring, 19th in rebounding, sixth in field-goal percentage and 16th in free-throw shooting. David Sybesma (Jr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) is 12th in scoring, 12th in rebounding and fifth in field-goal percentage, while Jonathan Williams (Sr., Pasadena, John Muir HS) is 17th in scoring, ninth in assists and fourth in 3-pointers.

 

PLAYER NOTES

 

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

Last Week: Had 16 points and three rebounds against San Francisco State on Saturday; had 15 points, two rebounds and three assists against Sonoma State on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 11.8 points, 3.2 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 28.

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 against San Francisco State on Saturday; went scoreless with one rebound and one assist against Sonoma State on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 0.4 points, 0.4 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. Made Cal Poly Pomona debut against Azusa Pacific on Nov. 21.

Season Highs: Points – 2 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 – 1 at Sonoma State (1-16-04), at Grand Canyon (1-10-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

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

Last Week: DNP-CD.

2003-04: Averaging 1.1 points, 0.5 rebounds and 1.6 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 10 points, one rebound and two assists against Sonoma State on Friday; had two points, one rebound and two assists against San Francisco State on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 6.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Has started seven times in the Broncos’ first 13 games. Is fourth on the team in scoring, 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 five points and two rebounds against Sonoma State on Friday; had five points and one rebound against San Francisco State on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 6.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Sixth on the team in scoring and 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: Scored a season-high nine points, two rebounds and three assists  against Sonoma State on Friday; had four points, two rebounds and two assists against San Francisco State on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 3.5 points, 1.6 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 – 4 at Hope International (11-22-03); 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 four points and seven rebounds against San Francisco State on Saturday; went scoreless with four rebounds against Sonoma State on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 6.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 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 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 a team-high 19 points, four rebounds and two assists against Sonoma State on Friday; had eight points and two rebounds against San Francisco State on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 17.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 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 – 8 at UC San Diego (1-9-04); 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 his first and the team’s first double-double of the season, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against San Francisco State on Saturday; had seven points and five rebounds against Sonoma State on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 13.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 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); Assists – 5 vs. Chico State (1-2-04).

Career Highs: Points – 21 at Hope International (11-22-03); Rebounds – 10 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: Had a career-high 10 points and two rebounds against San Francisco State on Saturday; had five points, three rebounds and two assists against Sonoma State on Friday.

2003-04: Averaging 4.2 points, 1.9 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: Had four points and one rebound against Sonoma State on Friday; went scoreless with one block and one steal against San Francisco State on Saturday.

2003-04: Averaging 3.6 points, 2.3 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 – 9 at Vanguard (11-25-03); 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 (1-20-04)

CCAA                                                    Overall

                                                W            L             Pct.                         W            L             Pct.

CS San Bernardino        8          0          1.000                12         1          .923

Cal State Bakersfield     7          1          .875                  11         2          .846

Cal Poly Pomona          5          3          .625                  9          4          .692

UC Davis                      5          3          .625                  8          5          .615

Chico State                   4          4          .500                  7          6          .538

San Francisco State      4          4          .500                  6          6          .500

CS Dominguez Hills      4          4          .500                  6          7          .462

UC San Diego               4          4          .500                  4          9          .308

Cal State L.A.                3          5          .375                  6          7          .462

Sonoma State               2          6          .333                  3          10         .231

CS Stanislaus                1          7          .125                  3          10         .231

Grand Canyon               1          7          .125                  2          11         .154