Box Score
TURLOCK, Calif. - Although it might have been Senior Night for the host Cal State Stanislaus squad, it was a trio of seniors on the Cal Poly Pomona men's basketball team that truly shined Saturday.
Seniors
Tobias Jahn,
Donnelle Booker and
Kevin Menner finished as the three Bronco players in double figures Saturday, helping the visiting CPP squad stage a second-half rally to top the Warriors, 60-58.
The Broncos improve to 14-9 overall and 11-8 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, while CSUS falls to marks of 10-14 overall and 8-12 through conference play. The result secures CPP a spot in the CCAA Tournament, which starts March 1.
The final two points for the Broncos Saturday came in the form of free throws by Jahn, who came close to netting a double-double with a season-high 16 points paired with nine rebounds. Despite going just 6-for-11 at the strike on the evening, those clutch attempts gave CPP the cushion it needed for the victory.
The Warriors faced a 60-54 deficit after Jahn's free throws but managed to sink two late buckets that brought the final margin to just two points.
Booker, who became the Broncos' all-time leader in blocks in Friday's game at Chico State, recorded a season-high 16 points during Saturday's win over the Warriors. A three-pointer from the senior gave CPP a 43-41 lead with 7:38 to play and that advantage held up for the remainder of the contest.
The two squads engaged in a defensive struggle in the first half, as the opening 20 minutes featured five lead changes and seven occasions of the score being tied. The Broncos' defense held CSUC to a 38.5-percent shooting rate in that stretch but the visitors were outrebounded, 18-11, as the Warriors took a 23-20 lead into halftime.
CPP proved to be relentless in its attempt to retake the advantage. After knotting the score seven different times in the opening half, the Broncos gained a lead three times during the second period before finally breaking through for good on the fourth occasion.
That struggle was highlighted by Booker, who sunk three go-ahead treys himself. While Jahn and Booker totaled 16 points apiece, Menner finished as the third CPP player in double-digits with 11 of his own.
Despite the Broncos hitting at a 66.7-percent clip from the free throw line on the night, the senior from Brooklyn, N.Y., connected on seven of his eight attempts to help keep the Warriors from seizing back the lead late.
Up next for CPP will be a 7:30 p.m. matchup on Tuesday at Cal State San Bernardino.
