Box Score: Broncos 80, Chico State 77

ARCATA – Career victory No. 200 for Cal Poly Pomona Coach Greg Kamansky required all 40 minutes Friday night. 

And the final shot from Chico State almost pushed the Broncos into extra minutes. 

The Broncos tied a school-record field-goal percentage, but held off hard-charging Chico State inside the final five minutes of play in an 80-77 California Collegiate Athletic Association semifinal victory. CPP extended its school-record winning streak to 15. 

Sophomore Dwayne Fells scored a career-high 19 points to lead five Broncos in double figures. They will face Cal State San Bernardino at 7:30 p.m. Saturday for the CCAA Tournament title. 

Kamansky received production from his usual suspects – all four of all-conference players. Junior Donnelle Booker continued his hot-shooting with 14 points on 5-of-6 shots from the floor. In his last four games, the San Bernardino native is hitting .800 (24-of-30). 

Senior All-CCAA first-team guard Austin Swift and second-team all-conference senior guard Dahir Nasser each scored 13 and freshman guard Mitchel Anderson pumped in 11 off the bench. 

Swift led the Broncos with 10 rebounds and recorded his first double-double in his career in a game that saw CPP establish a CCAA Tourney record for highest FG percentage in a game. 

The Broncos ended the game hitting 28-of-42 shots from the floor and matched their school-record for FG percentage for the second time this year. Coincidentally, the Broncos also fired 66.7 percent in the very same arena last month when they defeated Humboldt State 67-58 win. 

“I'm really proud of our guys,'' said Kamansky, who improved his career record to 200-87 in his 10 years at the helm. “It's been a long trip with hard travel. We played a really good game considering those factors. Chico State didn't quit 

“This team just finds a way to win, somehow. You look at our key guys -- Austin, Donnelle, Dahir, Dwayne; those guys stepped it up and add our freshman (Mitchel Anderson) off the bench. 

The Broncos led throughout most of the game based on the strength of their first-half shooting. They hit nine consecutive field goals and ended the first half with an incredible 75 percent effort (18 for 24). 

But 10 turnovers in the opening half allowed the Wildcats (16-13) to stay within breathing distance. 

Despite that sound effort from the floor, CPP only held a nine-point lead at the break. 

After a pair of free throws from Matthew Rossergave CPP its largest lead of the game – 72-55 – with 4:52 remaining, the Wildcats caught fire. 

They scored five 3-pointers in that span that triggered a 22-7 run that cut the CPP's lead to 79-77 with three seconds left. 

Jay Flores answered with two 3's and totaled 10 points in that stretch and freshman Damario Sims hit two long-reaching 3's to make the Broncos sweat. 

After Flores scored on a layup with three seconds left, the Wildcats fouled Fells, who hit just the second of a two-shot foul to put CPP up 80-77 with 2.8 seconds left. 

Flores fired off a shot at the buzzer from three-quarters of the court. The ball caromed off the glass, hit the front of the rim. 

That CPP is combining fine shooting and stellar defensive play have been the key ingredients for Kamansky's team. 

“I think our guys are taking good shots,'' Kamansky said. “Guys are committed to passing the ball around and working for high percentage shots. You have to score points at this time of the year.
The 20 turnovers matched a season-high. 

“We won't be able to get away with that tomorrow night,'' Kamansky said.” Credit Chico; they were fighting for their lives.'' 

BRONCO NOTES: Chico State established five season opponent-highs against the Broncos – first-half points (31), second-half points (46), total points (77), FGs made (25) and FGs attempted (58)… The Broncos improved to 98-9 when they hit 50 percent or better during Coach K's 10 years… The FG effort and advantage in rebounds improved CPP to 64-3 in games when they hold the advantage during the Kamansky era… CPP is 31-8 all-time when Swift scores double figures… Fells' previous game-high was 18 against Cal State L.A. on Feb. 19.