Box Score | POMONA, Calif. - Ranked No. 1 nationally in defense, the Cal Poly Pomona men's basketball team showed Saturday that its ability to shut down opposing offenses isn't magic or some sort of mirage.
In a dominating 66-46 victory over San Francisco State, the Broncos delivered energy on defense through all 40 minutes while holding the Gators to a 29-percent shooting effort.
With its fourth-consecutive victory, CPP – ranked at No. 7 in Division II - improves to 13-1 overall and 9-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Broncos remain in first place for the conference with local rival Cal State San Bernardino trailing in second at 8-2.
Sophomore guard
Bryce Brady played a key role in CPP's offensive success against SFSU. After collecting 14 points in Thursday's win over Sonoma State, the Chatsworth native reset his season high once again with a 17-point effort Saturday.
Terrence Drisdom joined Brady in double figures with 12 points of his own to go along with six rebounds, three assists and two steals. As a team, CPP outrebounded the Gators 43-34 as
Mohamed Fall and
Mitchel Anderson collected seven boards apiece.
The Broncos' offense got off to a spectacular start in the game, jumping out to a 15-2 lead through the first eight minutes of action. That stretch began with a Fall layup on the opening possession and was capped off by a three-pointer from
Connor Gacek.
Four of the Gators' first five baskets came in the three-point variety and the visitors close the margin to seven points on a couple of different occasions.
CPP closed out the opening period in stellar fashion though, finishing on a 6-0 run that featured one of Brady's three first-half treys just as the shot clock was about to expire. At the half, the Broncos led 31-18.
As the game progressed into the second half, the host squad picked up right where it left off in the first. CPP opened the second period on an 18-2 run that included dunks from Fall and Anderson. Impressively enough, the Broncos' defense held the Gators without a field goal for a stretch of 11 minutes and 28 seconds - from the 3:10 first-half mark to the 11:42 second-half mark.
The margin stayed between 20 and 29 for the remainder of the contest as CPP cruised to the 66-46 win at Kellogg Gym. The SFSU offense was led by William Overton Jr., who totaled 12 points on 4-for-9 shooting.
The Broncos will go on the road to challenge Cal State Dominguez Hills at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The Toros are tied for third place with a 6-4 CCAA record.
