CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

 

 

MEN’S BASKETBALL

MEDIA NOTES

 

2004-05 CPP Record: 16-5. CCAA Record: 11-3

2004-05 National Ranking: Receiving Votes

2004-05 Regional Ranking: 5

 

Broncos Bring Back The Pack And Then Become Leaders Of The Pack: Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s basketball team, which posted two big home victories in Kellogg Gym last week, will continue their quest for a first California Collegiate Athletic Association title since 1981 with two important contests this weekend. The Broncos, who are tied with Cal State San Bernardino for first place in the CCAA, will face Cal State Stanislaus on Friday and then entertain Chico State on Saturday. The game with Chico State will also have huge regional implications. The Broncos were ranked fifth and the Wildcats sixth in the NCAA Division II West Region before last weekend’s games and both squads swept games this past weekend. Chico State is also just one game behind the CCAA co-leaders. The Broncos have won 15 of their last 17 games to climb into the thick of the conference title chase. Cal Poly Pomona has also clinched its 11th consecutive winning season. The Broncos are coming off another successful season. Cal Poly Pomona, which has made the NCAA Division II playoffs in consecutive years for the first time in the program’s history, went 21-7 last season and notched its second straight 20-win season for the first time ever. The Broncos were 17-5 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association last year and set a new program standard for most conference wins in a season. The Broncos had a successful follow-up to their 2002-03 season, which ranks as one of the best in the program’s history.  Cal Poly Pomona won the 2003 West Regional and advanced to the national quarterfinals for only the second time in the program’s history and the first since the 1964. The 23 wins tied the program mark for most victories, also set by the 1964 squad. Cal Poly Pomona returns three starters and seven players overall from last year’s squad, including preseason All-American Jeff Bonds (Sr., Compton, Mayfair HS) and All-CCAA and All-West Region selection David Sybesma (Sr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS).

 

About Last Week: The Broncos continued their impressive play and won two more games last weekend. Cal Poly Pomona opened the weekend with a 76-58 victory over Cal State Bakersfield on Friday in front of a “Bring Back The Pack” Night crowd of 1,472 in Kellogg Gym. The Broncos avenged an early-season loss to the Roadrunners and beat Cal State Bakersfield for the fifth time in the past seven meetings. The Broncos took control of the game early, roaring to a 37-21 halftime advantage and then holding leads as large as 31 points in the second half. David Sybesma (Sr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) had 15 points and nine rebounds, while Jeff Bonds (Sr., Compton, Mayfair HS) had 15 points and six rebounds to lead the Broncos. Dion Cook (So., Canoga Park, Chaminade HS) had 13 points, three rebounds and four assists, while Jonathan Boyd (Jr., Fontana, Etiwanda HS) had 12 points and three rebounds. A three-point play by Billy Hofman (So., Sierra Madre, La Canada HS) gave the Broncos a 56-25 edge, which was their largest of the game. Cal Poly Pomona then rolled past Cal State L.A., 80-51, on Saturday. Sybesma led four Broncos in double figures with 18 points. Bonds added 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Cook and Hervey Malone II (Jr., Pittsburg, Pittsburg HS) had 11 points each. The Broncos limited the Golden Eagles to just six first-half baskets and led, 34-18 at halftime. Cal Poly Pomona led by as many as 34 points in the second half.

 

Head to Head: Cal Poly Pomona is 11-3 all-time against Cal State Stanislaus, including a 76-50 victory over the Warriors in Turlock on Jan. 15. David Sybesma (Sr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) had 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Broncos, while Jeff Bonds (Sr., Compton, Mayfair HS) had 13 points and five rebounds. The Broncos and Warriors were locked in a thriller in Kellogg Gym last season. Sybesma hit a game-tying 3-pointer in the waning seconds to tie the game and the Broncos wound up winning, 75-66, in overtime. The Broncos swept the season series from the Warriors last year. Cal Poly Pomona is 11-10 all-time against Chico State and beat the Wildcats, 73-52, in Chico on Jan. 14. Bonds had 24 points and nine rebounds to lead the Broncos, while Hervey Malone II (Jr., Pittsburg, Pittsburg HS) added 13 points. Cal Poly Pomona is the only team to win at Chico this season. The teams split a pair of meetings last season with each team winning on its home floor.

 

Where We Stand: Cal Poly Pomona finds itself at the top or near the top of several key California Collegiate Athletic Association statistics. The Broncos lead the conference in scoring margin (+11.6) and field-goal shooting percentage (48.5 percent) and are second in assist-turnover ratio (1.16). The team is third in scoring (72.0 per game) and first in defense (60.3 per game). The Broncos are fourth in the nation in defense. Jeff Bonds (Sr., Compton, Mayfair HS) is third in the conference in scoring (17.0 points per game), while David Sybesma (Sr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) is fourth (16.7 points per game). Sybesma leads the conference in scoring for conference games only (17.4 per game) and also leads the CCAA in field-goal percentage (57.1 percent). Dion Cook (So., Canoga Park, Chaminade HS) leads the conference in free-throw percentage (86.0 percent). Bonds is second in the conference in blocked shots (1.33 per game) and fourth in steals (1.90 per game). Hervey Malone II (Jr., Pittsburg, Pittsburg HS) is second in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (.444). Billy Hofman (So., Sierra Madre, La Canada HS) is sixth in assist/turnover ratio (1.72).

 

The Defense Never Rests: Cal Poly Pomona’s defense has taken the NCAA Division II by storm. The Broncos have allowed only 60.3 points per game and have the No. 4 defense in the country. Since unleashing the “White Cell” defense against Grand Canyon on Dec. 18, the Broncos have allowed only 56.9 points per game and limited opponents to 61 points or less in 11 of the last 15 games. The Bronco coaching staff – Head Coach Greg Kamansky and assistant coaches Steve Wachs, Damion Hill and Bill Bannon – are noted science buffs and came up with the name during serious deliberations. White cells, the coaches point out, are the body’s way of fighting off infections and diseases. In basketball terms, the “White Cell” has been a hybrid of zone and man-to-man defenses. In any event, the defense has been good enough to top the California Collegiate Athletic Association and jump to fourth in the country.

 

The Kamansky File: Cal Poly Pomona Head Coach Greg Kamansky is beginning his fifth season as the leader of the Broncos. Kamansky has guided the Broncos to a 95-38 overall record. His winning percentage of .714 is the best in the program’s history. He led the Broncos to a 21-7 record last season and into the NCAA Division II playoffs for the second straight season. That was a successful follow-up to the sensational season in 2002-03 when he guided the Broncos to the West Region championship and the program’s first appearance in the national quarterfinals in 39 years. 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 four 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 (Sr., Compton, Mayfair HS) became the program’s all-time leading scorer during a 26-point performance against Western Washington on Nov. 27. Bonds surpassed the old mark of 1,302 held by Lucas LeCour and now has 1,604 points in his Cal Poly Pomona career. He is currently third in the California Collegiate Athletic Association in scoring with 17.0 points per game. He also leads the Broncos in rebounding, steals and blocks. He has been named CCAA Player of the Week three times this season. Bonds led the Broncos in scoring for a second straight year last season with a 17.3 point per game average. He earned first-team All-CCAA honors for the second straight season and also earned first-team NABC All-West Region honors as well. He was at his best once again in the postseason, pouring in a team-high 26 points in the Broncos’ first-round loss to Humboldt State. In 2003, Bonds averaged 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 a 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. Bonds led the team in scoring (14.4 points) and rebounding (5.8 per game) for the season and was named to the All-CCAA first team. He was the only CCAA player to receive honorable mention All-America honors this season by Street & Smith’s, the second year he has been honored by the publication.

 

Fired Up About Sybesmania: Cal Poly Pomona forward David Sybesma (Sr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) returns for his fourth season with the program and he, too, will go down as one of the best players in the program’s history. He is currently second on the team in scoring with a 16.7 points per game average and leads the California Collegiate Athletic Association in scoring in only conference games at 17.4 points per game. Sybesma was named the CCAA Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 17-23 for his performances against Cal State San Bernardino and UC San Diego. He hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 38 seconds left to lead the Broncos past the Coyotes and he had a game-high 18 points the following night against the Tritons. He has climbed to fourth on the all-time scoring list with 1,237 points in his career. Sybesma earned first-team All-CCAA honors last season after finishing second on the team with a 14.0 points per game average. He was also second on the team in rebounding with 5.6 boards per game. He also continued his knack of hitting big-time shots for the Broncos, sinking a 3-pointer in the final seconds to send a critical home game against Cal State Stanislaus into overtime. In 2003, he made 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 that 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 named to the All-CCAA second team in 2003.

 

Look Who’s New: The Broncos are welcoming five players to their program this season and four of the five are freshman. The lone upperclassmen is Matt Nelsen, a 6-foot-4 senior guard from New Mexico Highlands. The Broncos are also excited about first-year players Kevin Neveu (Fr., San Leandro, St. Joseph Notre Dame HS), Bill Forelli (Fr., Gig Harbor, WA, Gig Harbor HS), Ryan Chisholm (Fr., Richmond, Marin Catholic HS) and Kyle Kraus (Fr., Wasco, Wasco HS). In addition, Kaelen Daniels (Fr., Compton, Artesia HS), who redshirted last year, is expected to make major contributions this year in his first season on the active roster.

 

Where We Left Off: Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s basketball team finished the 2003-04 season with a 21-7 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the second straight season. The Broncos, the No. 6 seed, lost a heartbreaking 86-83 decision to eventual regional champion Humboldt State. Jeff Bonds (Sr., Compton, Mayfair HS) had a sensational game, pouring in 26 points and leading four Broncos in double figures. Jonathan Boyd (Jr., Fontana, Etiwanda HS) had a career-high 17 points and knocked down five 3-pointers, while David Sybemsa (Sr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) and Jonathan Williams had 16 points each. Sybemsa also had a career-high nine assists. Humboldt State hit an amazing 15 of its 20 attempts from behind the 3-point arc. The Broncos set a new program standard by winning 17 California Collegiate Athletic Association games while finishing third in the conference with a 17-5 mark. The Broncos also notched their second straight 20-win season for the first time ever.

 

 

PLAYER NOTES:

 

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

Last Week: Had three points, two assists and three rebounds against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday; had two points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals against Cal State L.A. on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 4.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Currently is second on the team in assists and leads in 3-point field-goal shooting percentage (.472).

Season Highs: Points – 12 at Grand Canyon (12-18-04); Rebounds – 6 vs. BYU-Hawaii (1-3-05); Assists – 6 at Cal State Stanislaus (1-15-05), vs. Seattle University (12-14-04).

Career Highs: Points – 12 at Grand Canyon (12-18-04); Rebounds – 6 vs. BYU-Hawaii (1-3-05); Assists – 6 at Cal State Stanislaus (1-15-05), vs. Seattle University (12-14-04).

 

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

Last Week: Had 12 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday; had eight points, one rebound, three assists and three steals against Cal State L.A. on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 7.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Is fifth on the team in scoring and is second on the team in 3-point field goals made (28).

Season Highs: Points – 15 at Grand Canyon (12-18-04); Rebounds – 5 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04); Assists – 3 vs. Cal State L.A. (2-12-05), at Western Washington (11-27-04), vs. Saint Martin’s (11-26-04).

Career Highs: Points – 17 vs. Humboldt State (3-12-04); Rebounds – 5 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04), 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, Jr., Pittsburg, Pittsburg HS)

Last Week: Had 11 points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal against Cal State L.A. on Saturday; had six points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 8.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. Is fourth on the team in scoring, first in 3-point field goals made (32) and second in 3-point field goal percentage (.444). Is second in the conference in 3-point shooing percentage.

Season Highs: Points – 22 vs. BYU-Hawaii (1-3-05); Rebounds – 7 vs. Saint Martin’s (11-26-04); Assists – 3 at San Francisco State (2-04-05), at Western Washington (11-27-04).

Career Highs: Points – 22 vs. BYU-Hawaii (1-3-05); Rebounds – 7 vs. Saint Martin’s (11-26-04), vs. Sonoma State (2-21-04), 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, So., Canoga Park, Chaminade HS)

Last Week: Had 13 points, three rebounds and four assists against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday; had 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals against Cal State L.A. on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 8.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Is tirdh on the team in scoring and third in 3-pointers made (25).

Season Highs: Points – 16 vs. UC San Diego (1-22-05); Rebounds – 7 at San Francisco State (2-04-05), at Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-26-05); Assists – 4 vs. Cal State Bakersfield (2-11-05), at Cal State Bakersfield (1-08-05), vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04), at Western Washington (11-27-04).

Career Highs: Points – 16 vs. UC San Diego (1-22-05); Rebounds – 7 at San Francisco State (2-04-05), at Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-26-05); Assists – 4 vs. Cal State Bakersfield (2-11-05), at Cal State Bakersfield (1-08-05), vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04), at Western Washington (11-27-04), at UC Davis (2-27-04).

 

23        MATT NELSEN (G, Sr., Santa Clarita, New Mexico Highlands)

Last Week: Went scoreless in limited action against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday; had four points, two rebounds and one assist against Cal State L.A. on Saturday.

2004-05: Averaging 2.1 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 7 at Cal State L.A. (1-07-05); Rebounds – 4 at Cal State L.A. (1-07-05); Assists – 4 vs. San Francisco State (12-4-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

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

Last Week: Had 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and one blocked shot against Cal State L.A. on Saturday; had 15 points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 17.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Is second in the California Collegiate Athletic Association in scoring. Leads the team in scoring, rebounding, blocks and steals. Has been named CCAA Player of the Week three times this season.

Season Highs: Points – 26 at Western Washington (11-27-04); Rebounds – 14 vs. Saint Martin’s (11-26-04); Assists – 10 at Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-26-05).

Career Highs: Points – 31 vs. Cal State San Bernardino (3-17-03); Rebounds – 14 vs. Saint Martin’s (11-26-04); Assists – 10 at Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-26-05).

 

33        DAVID SYBESMA (F, Sr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS)

Last Week: Had 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and one blocked shot against Cal State L.A. on Saturday; had 15 points, nine rebounds, one assist and one steal against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday.

2004-05: Averaging 16.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Is second in the California Collegiate Athletic Association in conference-games only scoring (17.6 points per game). Is second on the team in overall scoring and rebounding. Leads the team in assists and is also second in steals.

Season Highs: Points – 27 at Cal State Bakersfield (1-08-05); Rebounds – 12 at Cal State Stanislaus (1-15-05), vs. Dominican University (12-29-04); Assists – 6 vs. Dominican University (12-29-04), vs. Saint Martin’s (11-26-04), vs. Vanguard (11-23-04).

Career Highs: Points – 27 at Cal State Bakersfield (1-08-05), at Cal State Stanislaus (1-31-04); Rebounds – 12 vs. Dominican University (12-29-04); Assists – 9 vs. Humboldt State (3-12-04).

 

34        KAELEN DANIELS (C, Fr., Compton, Artesia HS)

Last Week: Had 6 points, four rebounds and one assist against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday; had four points, three rebounds and one blocked shot against Cal State L.A. on Saturday.

2004-05:  Averaging 4.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 10 at San Francisco State (2-04-05); Rebounds – 7 at Sonoma State (2-05-05), vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04); Assists – 3 vs. Sonoma State (12-3-04).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.

 

44        KEVIN NEVEU (F, Fr., San Leandro, St. Joseph Notre Dame HS)

Last Week: Had six points, three rebounds and three assists against Cal State L.A. on Saturday; had six points, four rebounds and one assist against Cal State Bakersfield on Friday.

2004-05:  Averaging 3.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

Season Highs: Points – 9 at Cal State L.A. (1-07-05); Rebounds – 5 at Cal State Dominguez Hills (1-26-05); Assists – 3 vs. Cal State L.A. (2-12-05).

Career Highs: First year with Broncos.