Box Score | POMONA, Calif. - DeRonn Scott threw down a slam dunk in the final minute and
Connor Gacek dribbled out the final seconds of the game. The Cal Poly Pomona men's basketball team and its fans celebrated those two seniors Saturday and the Broncos topped Cal State L.A., 56-47, to clinch a first-round bye in the conference tournament.
There's still plenty at stake for CPP in the final two games of the regular season with Friday at Cal State Stanislaus and Saturday at Chico State. At 20-4 overall and 18-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), the Broncos remain tied for first with Cal State San Bernardino.
After the final buzzer sounded on Saturday's win, the CPP men's basketball student-athletes stayed on the court to thank their fans. Just two weeks ago, the Bronco faithful set a school record with an attendance of 2,757 at the Homecoming game at Kellogg Gym.
Sophomore
Jordan Faison impressed the crowd Saturday with a 21-point performance, marking his seventh-consecutive game in double figures. He also added seven rebounds and two blocks. Joining him in double-digit scoring was Scott, who finished with 11 points and eight boards.
The Broncos trailed 38-31 with 12:20 left in the game but CPP put together a key 8-0 run, which was started by a Faison three-point play off a layup and free throw.
Quentin Taylor added a three-point play of his own to cap off the run while giving the Broncos a 39-38 edge.
Overall, CPP outscored the Golden Eagles 25-9 through the final 12:20 of the game. Scott's slam with 21 seconds left brought the CPP crowd to its feet as the margin neared double digits.
It took nearly four minutes for the first point to be scored Saturday. Scott knocked down the Broncos' first field goal of the contest, a three-pointer to put CPP ahead 4-2. The Broncos pushed their lead to 10-2 when
Jordan Finn dropped in a layup off a
Francois Tchoyi assist.
The Golden Eagles (14-10, 11-9 CCAA) chipped away and took their own lead in the opening half but Faison knocked down a jumper just before the halftime buzzer to give CPP a 23-21 lead heading into the break.
After CSULA opened up its largest advantage of the game at 38-31 with 12:20 to play, the Broncos stormed back and controlled the tempo the rest of the way. Quinton Watkins led the Golden Eagles' offense Saturday with 17 points but CPP limited L.A. to a 30-percent shooting performance.
