Box Score

POMONA – Cal State East Bay found out Friday night what CCAA men's basketball teams have known for some time. The defensive presence Cal Poly Pomona puts forth on a nightly basis can make for an arduous 40 minutes. 

The 16th-ranked Broncos shut down the visiting Pioneers in their inaugural CCAA contest and earned a 64-37 victory before 317 fans at Kellogg Gymnasium. 

CPP, now 2-1 overall, held its opponent to just 26.9 percent from the floor on 14-of-52 shooting. It was the first time the Broncos held an opponent to less than 30 percent since CSULA shot 28 percent on Jan. 5, 2008. 

The Broncos were led by senior Austin Swift, who scored a game-high 16 points. The Santa Cruz native was 6-of-14 from the floor with two 3-pointers. He grabbed six rebounds, dealt four assists with three steals and a block in his most complete effort on the young season. 

CPP led throughout the game and held the Pioneers to just 14 first-half points. Swift and teammate Tobias Jahn each scored 10 points in the opening half as the Broncos led 30-14 at halftime. 

Defensively, CPP forced more turnovers (17) on CSUEB than field goals scored (14) for the game. 

The only threat the Pioneers made in the second half was in the early going, earning a 6-0 run over the first three minutes as CPP led, 30-20 with 17:14 remaining. 

But CPP enjoyed a 15-4 run inside the next six minutes. Swift hit two 3-pointers in that stretch and sophomore Matthew Rosser added one as the Broncos pushed the lead to 45-24 with 11:26 left. 

Coach Greg Kamansky enjoyed a fine outing from several reserve players. Junior Mark Rutledge hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second half and freshmen Mitchel Anderson and Shaun Norum each added a trey as CPP earned its largest lead of the game – 64-34 – on Rutledge's free throws with 3:10 left. 

Defense has been a staple since Kamansky took over in 2000 and the Broncos improved their record at holding an opponent to less than 50 points. CPP is now 28-1 in Kamansky's 10 years when an opponent scores less than 50 points. 

Jahn finished with 10 points and senior Dahir Nasser had nine points with four assists. Rutledge finished with eight points and Rosser had seven. In all, eight of the Broncos who dressed reached the scoring column. 

Melvin Flemings led the Pioneers (2-2, 0-1) with seven points. 

CPP plays host to UC San Diego on Saturday night. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. The game is billed as Pack the Gym Night. Free food and pregame entertainment is in store for CPP students.

GAME NOTES: The game marked the 19th time Swift scored in double figures. The Broncos are 15-4 in those contests… The last time a CPP opponent was held to less than 40 points was against UC San Diego, in the 61-39 win in La Jolla last season… CPP's 30-point lead tied its largest lead of the season. It led by 30 (69-39) against The Master's College last week…