Box Score | SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - With a balanced attack and the nation's best defense, the Cal Poly Pomona men's basketball team picked up an 80-69 road win Friday against Cal State San Bernardino.
The Broncos, ranked fourth in the latest Division II Top 25 poll, are riding a nine-game winning streak to improve to 18-1 overall and 14-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).
Friday's matchup at Coussoulis Arena brought the CCAA's first- and second-place teams together but in the end, Broncos managed to avenge the loss at the hands of the Coyotes earlier this season - the only defeat dealt to CPP so far in 2012-13.
Five Broncos scored in double figures Friday, led by
DeRonn Scott's season-high 18 points.
Terrence Drisdom added 16 points, all of which came in the second half.
Mitchel Anderson and
Mohamed Fall both came close to notching double-double totals and Fall collected four blocks, the most by a CPP player this season. Freshman
Jordan Faison rounded out the double-digit group of five as he contributed 12 points off the bench on 6-for-8 shooting.
The Broncos and Coyotes traded baskets through the first nine and a half minutes. To cap off that stretch, CPP's Anderson and CSUSB's Brian Goins drained back-to-back three-pointers to push the score to 9-9.
Anderson fired in another triple on the next Broncos' possession and that jumpstarted a 10-0 run for the visitors. A tip-in off a putback by Faison was featured in that stretch and Anderson followed quickly with a fastbreak layup. A pair of free throws from
Barry Bell extended the CPP lead to 19-9 with 8:39 to play in the opening half.
The Coyotes managed to trim the margin down to four off a Jamari Simmons trey but just a few minutes later, Broncos' sophomore
Bryce Brady struck for a triple to put CPP ahead 26-17. The Broncos closed out the period strong and took a 33-22 lead into halftime.
San Bernardino put together an 8-1 run early in the second period but CPP didn't let that momentum for the hosts last long. After being held scoreless in the opening half, Drisdom found his shooting rhythm in the closing period.
Bell provided a clutch play at the 8:20 mark after the loose ball bounced off the fingertips of both teams' taller players. A redshirt freshman guard from Oakland, Bell snagged the rebound and hit a fadeaway baseline jumper while drawing contact. He converted the subsequent free throw to give the Broncos a 61-47 lead.
The Coyotes managed to cut the difference to six points with 3:21 to play but CPP finished strong and ended up with the 11-point victory. The Broncos will return to action with a Saturday 7:30 p.m. matchup at UC San Diego. The Tritons topped Humboldt State Friday in La Jolla.
