POMONA - The new-look Cal Poly Pomona men's basketball team stepped onto the court for a game that counts for the first time in 615 days on Friday afternoon inside Kellogg Arena, and rallied late in regulation to ultimately down No. 21 Seattle Pacific University in overtime, 75-71, on the first day of the Conference Crossover Challenge.

Senior Phoenix Shackelford's career- and game-high 24 points included nine straight CPP points spanning the end of regulation and start of overtime, as the Broncos knocked off a decorated and highly-regarded SPU side which returns all five starters from its 2019-20 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) regular-season title run.

CPP (1-0) was picked to place third in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) preseason coaches' poll, garnering a single first-place nod, while Seattle Pacific (1-2) is the unanimous favorite to top the GNAC. The Falcons opened their campaign last week in Saint Joseph, Mo., and split a pair against nationally-ranked opponents with a win over No. 20 Alabama Huntsville (77-71) and loss to No. 1 Northwest Missouri State (59-64). The Broncos are receiving votes outside of the top 25 of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Preseason Poll.

Cal Poly Pomona had last suffered a 76-62 defeat to UC San Diego at RIMAC Arena in La Jolla in the CCAA Tournament final on March 7, 2020, and still qualified at-large for the NCAA Division II West Regional at the same venue before the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the entire NCAA Championship and subsequently the 2020-21 season.

On Friday, the Broncos were down by four at 65-61 with 2:30 remaining in regulation following a pair of Mehdi El Mardi free throws for the guests. Tay Aubry-Thomas, a sophomore transfer out of Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria making his debut in the green and gold, then split free throws, and Shackelford was fouled on a breakaway and also split a pair to make it a two-point game.

On their next possession with 1:21 to go, Shackelford's jumper tied it, and the teams combined for four turnovers from there with just one shot attempt, bringing on the overtime period.

The extra session began with a three-point play by Shackelford, with the jumper on that one also assisted by fellow senior Tavian Henderson.

After Kelton Samore went 1-for-2 at the free throw line in back-to-back SPU possessions to close the gap back to one, Shackelford had the answer once more, connecting on another bucket to make it 70-67. The Fairfield product added a free throw, but Shaw Anderson, the 2019-20 GNAC Freshman of the Year, hit a three-pointer to keep the visitors in it.

Aubry-Thomas' lay-in gave CPP back a three-point edge, and following another split at the line by the Falcons, it was Aubry-Thomas again who iced the game with two free throws.

Divant'e Moffitt, the GNAC Preseason Player of the Year, actually missed a three-pointer ahead of those final two Bronco points, with Aubry-Thomas grabbing the rebound and getting fouled.

Cal Poly Pomona held a 38-33 lead at halftime behind a blistering 53.3 shooting percentage from the floor. SPU was at a 40.7 percent clip over the first 20 minutes.

The Broncos, who were ranked fifth in scoring defense for the 2019-20 season in Division II, held Moffitt to just three points on three made free throws in the first half, as the senior guard was 0-for-4 from the field. Harry Cavell, also a member of the Preseason All-GNAC Team, led all scorers at the break with 11.

Henderson notched the Broncos' first points of the season with a layup for an early 2-2 tie. Henderson and Shackelford were CPP's only players Friday who had seen the court before for head coach Greg Kamansky.

Shackelford added a career- and team-best eight rebounds to his 24 points, as well as four assists and three steals. Henderson provided 11 points, a career- and game-high seven assists, and three steals of his own. He shot 5-of-7 from the field. Aubry-Thomas finished with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting off the bench. The Broncos won despite getting out-rebounded by a 45-33 count, shooting 45.5 percent for the afternoon while holding the Falcons to 38.6 percent.

Zack Paulsen paced four SPU players in double figures with his 19 points and had a double-double with 11 boards. Cavell, Samore, Anderson and Moffitt wound up with 16, 12, 10 and nine points, respectively. The contest featured 17 lead changes and 13 tie scores.

CPP concludes the Conference Crossover Challenge with another 2 p.m. tip-off inside Kellogg Arena against Azusa Pacific University (0-1) of the Pacific West Conference on Saturday, Nov. 13. The Cougars fell to preseason CCAA favorite Chico State in Friday's first game, 59-51. The Wildcats will take on SPU at 12 p.m. to begin Saturday's action.

All CCAA basketball contests throughout this 2021-22 season will stream live online via the CCAA Network at www.ccaanetwork.com. Fans may also download the CCAA Network app on your iOS or Android smartphone, tablet, or through web streaming devices such as Amazon Fire, Roku or Apple TV. The broadcasts are free of charge through the remainder of the 2021 calendar year. Admission into Kellogg Arena is free for CPP students, staff and faculty.

Bronco Bits: Cal Poly Pomona is 418-166 (.716) overall under 22nd-year head coach and record five-time CCAA Coach of the Year Greg Kamansky ... Kamansky's starting five for the opener was made up of seniors Tavian Henderson and Phoenix Shackelford, and a trio of freshmen making their college debuts in Dane Erikstrup, Christopher Mitchell and Jaden Winfield ... Shackelford started for the first time since a 60-57 win at Stanislaus State on Feb. 8, 2020 ... Also making their college debuts were Jordan Carpenter, Brase Dottin, Chris Gayles Jr. and Caleb Nelson ... Making his Bronco debut was junior college transfer Tay Aubry-Thomas ... Shackelford's previous career high was 22 points in a 77-52 victory at Sonoma State on Jan. 2, 2020 ... CPP is 16-5 in season openers and 18-3 in home openers under Kamansky ... The Broncos had won 11 straight home openers prior to a 72-70 overtime loss to Cal State San Bernardino on Nov. 21, 2019 ... CPP is 6-6 all-time against SPU in a series that dates back to 1970, including 4-3 under Kamansky and 3-1 in Pomona ... The Broncos opened their season with the Falcons for the first time in program history, and had won the prior meeting between the sides, 64-58 in Seattle, Wash., on Nov. 9, 2019 ... CPP also began that campaign with back-to-back games against SPU and APU, both in Seattle ... The Broncos were supposed to open the 2018-19 season against those two programs as well, but that tournament was canceled altogether due to severe wildfires in the Chico area ... CPP is 26-27 against nationally-ranked opponents in the Kamansky era (14-8 at home) ... The Broncos were 2-3 in overtime games in 2019-20 ... 1,000-Point Club Watch: Shackelford is at 829.