Box Score
ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – A three-pointer barrage from the host Sonoma State squad led to the Cal Poly Pomona men's basketball team dropping an 82-60 road decision to the Seawolves.
Dwayne Fells put together another strong performance to lead the Broncos with 14 points, while adding eight rebounds and three assists. Mark Rutledge collected 14 points as well and connected on four three-pointers, setting career highs in both categories.
Nonetheless, the CPP defense that was holding opponents to the third-lowest scoring average at the Division II level entering the week couldn't find a way to stop SSU's sharpshooters. The loss drops CPP to 4-5 overall and 1-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, while the Seawolves improve to 5-6 overall and 3-4 through conference play.
SSU started the game as the conference's second-best three-point shooting squad and the Seawolves showed their prowess from long range on Thursday. The hosts ended up going 15-for-22 from beyond the arc, for a 68.2 percentage. Four SSU players finished with double-digit point totals: Patrick Scott (20), Will Olsem (12), James Sandoval (11) and Ben Washington (11).
The Seawolves established a double-digit lead roughly 12 minutes into the contest and pushed the score to 38-21 heading into halftime with four-straight successful free throw attempts to close the period.
After SSU held a 42-27 advantage at the 18:07 mark in the second half, the Broncos picked up a quick 4-0 run with back-to-back buckets from Mitchel Anderson and Fells. The continuously stellar three-point shooting from the Seawolves built the lead back up though, as Olsem, Ash Arnott and Washington reeled off three-straight treys midway through the closing period.
Kevin Menner, who had entered the week as CPP's second-best scorer with 13.1 points per game, fouled out with 7:46 to go in regulation and was limited to seven points in 11 minutes played.
Anderson finished as the third Bronco player in double figures, totaling 12 points on 5-for-14 shooting to go along with four rebounds.
Free throw percentage stands as one of the few positives for the Broncos from Thursday's contest, as CPP went 13-for-17 at the strike. That 76.5 percentage is the highest for the Broncos since March 25, 2009, in the NCAA Division II quarterfinal win over Southwest Minnesota State, when CPP shot 89.7 percent.
Up next, the Broncos will challenge Humboldt State on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Arcata, Calif. The Lumberjacks, after defeating Cal State San Bernardino on Thursday, hold sole possession of first place in the conference at 6-1.
