CCAA RELEASE
 
POMONA – It was announced Thursday, the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos have been predicted to close the 2022-23 season in fourth place in the CCAA standings, according to the preseason vote of the league's head coaches.
 
In his 22^nd season at the helm, head coach Greg Kamansky sees eight Broncos return from the 2021-22 season. Sophomore guard Christopher Mitchell closed the 2021-22 season with 195 points, 29 assists, and 24 steals.
 
Also returning for the Broncos is sophomore forward Caleb Nelson who tallied 119 points, 72 rebounds, and six blocks last season. The only consistent starter returning for CPP is sophomore guard Jaden Winfield who started 20 games and collected 61 points on the season.

The Broncos are bringing in transfer forward Mayowa Akinsanya who arrives from NCAA Division I University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Akinsanya closed the 2021-22 season with 79 rebounds, 58 points, and 11 assists. 
 
With 82 points in the preseason coaches poll, the Broncos are looking to return to the NCAA Division II West Region Championship Tournament for the fifteenth time under Kamansky's leadership.
 
CPP open's the 2022-23 season in the Cougar Classic against the tournament host, Azusa Pacific at the Felix Event Center on November 11^th with tip-off at 7:30pm. The Broncos first home game is set for November 18^th against Biola at 4:30pm in Kellogg Arena.

The top six teams in the standings at the end of the regular season will compete in the CCAA Men's Basketball Tournament set for Mar. 2-4 on the campus of Stanislaus State in Turlock.
 
For a complete 2022-23 Cal Poly Pomona men's basketball schedule, click HERE.
 
All home games and most away contests will stream live online via the CCAA Network at www.ccaanetwork.com. You 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. For $9.95 per month, subscribers will have access to all CCAA broadcasts, both live and on-demand, for one low monthly price. Over half of each monthly subscription purchase will go directly back to the CCAA Athletic Department of your choice to support the student-athlete experience. Sign-ups are available right now at each universities' network portal. Just go to CCAAnetwork.com, select your favorite team at the top and the 'click to subscribe.'
 
CPP Athletics has gone cashless! Tickets are on sale now for all CPP home games. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online prior to coming to campus at broncoathletics.com/tickets or by downloading the HomeTown Fan app on your smartphone or tablet. New this year, only debit and credit cards will be accepted at the box office for admission. Limited concession items will be on sale on-site as well, and the concession stand will only accept debit and credit cards.
 
Follow the Broncos all season long by going to broncoathletics.com/followus and sign up to receive breaking news and final score updates throughout the year.

Cal State San Bernardino is coming off a 24-4 season (16-2 CCAA) in which it hosted the NCAA West Regional. The Yotes will return the conference's leading scorer and 2021-22 CCAA Newcomer of the Year, Brandon Knapper (20.9 ppg, .384 3pt%). Starters Darius Mickens (12.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg, .601 fg%) and Eddie Davis (12.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg) will also be back for the team, which led the CCAA in scoring by over 10 points per game (86.2 ppg) and ranked third in NCAA Division II in rebounding margin (+9.0).

Cal State San Marcos finished second in the polls with 127 points. The Cougars (20-5, 13-4 CCAA) placed third in the regular season before winning three straight postseason games to capture the 2022 CCAA Tournament Championship. Two All-CCAA selections return in the backcourt for the Cougars in Jayce McCain (12.5 ppg, 4.0 apg) and Greg Milton III (13.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg). Both shot over 84 percent at the free throw line last season to help CSUSM finish fifth in the country at the charity stripe (.794%).

Defending West Region champions, Chico State placed third in the polls with 115 points. The Wildcats (22-5, 15-3 CCAA) finished second in the CCAA standings and earned the No. 6 seed in the regional before winning three consecutive games to reach the Elite Eight. Their three All-CCAA first team selections graduated, but Chico will have Joshua Hamilton (9.7 ppg) returning in the backcourt, Kelvin Wright (7.6 rpg, 1.5 blocks) in the paint, and many others that gained valuable experience during the postseason run.

It was a very close vote for the following places in the poll, as four teams finished within two points. Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State Dominguez Hills tied for fourth with 82 points. Stanislaus State followed them with 81 points and Cal Poly Humboldt with 80.

The Toros went 14-11 in 2021-22 and grabbed the No. 5 seed in the CCAA Tournament with a 10-7 record. They pulled a first-round upset to reach the semifinals, and they will look to build on that momentum this season. Jordan Hilstock (8.1 ppg, .408 3pt%) and Hunter Seymour (6.1 rpg, 1.0 bpg) are both back as starters for a team that ranked 15th in Division II in field goal percentage defense (.401).

Stanislaus State relied on a young roster in 2021-22, and they will look to take a step forward this season. The Warriors will bring back four of five starters including their top scorer Tony Singleton (13.6 ppg) and CCAA assist leader Benno Zecic (5.3 apg). They won their final three games of the season to finish 10-13 (7-11 CCAA).

Cal Poly Humboldt will return two starters to a team that went 11-14 overall in 2021-22. Cam Timmons (9.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, .517 fg%) will be back in the paint, and Bryce Mitchell (7.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg) will again be at a guard position. Last year, the Jacks led the CCAA in offensive rebounding (12.7) and were fourth in rebounding margin (+1.5).

Cal State Monterey Bay finished eighth in the preseason poll with 60 points. Last season, the Otters earned their highest seed ever in the CCAA Tournament (No. 4) after setting the program record for CCAA wins (12). Second team All-CCAA selection Levi Frankland (12.3 ppg) will be back to lead the backcourt.

Cal State East Bay and Cal State LA tied for ninth in the poll with 51 points. The Golden Eagles will return two starters, while the Pioneers will have an entirely new starting lineup. San Francisco State and Sonoma State rounded out the poll with 41 and 22 points, respectively.

Follow along with the action throughout the 2022-23 basketball season at CCAAnetwork.com for just $9.95 per month. Sign up today to support your favorite team and student-athletes.

Many of these teams will play exhibition games over the weeks leading up to their regular season openers on Friday, Nov. 11. CCAA conference play begins on Saturday, Nov. 26.

All 12 teams will be vying to finish in the top half of the league to earn one of the six spots in the CCAA Basketball Tournament in Turlock on Mar. 2-4. 
 

CCAA Preseason Watchlist (returning first or second team All-CCAA selections)

Levi Frankland (Sr., G, Cal State Monterey Bay)
Brandon Knapper (Sr., G, Cal State San Bernardino)
Jayce McCain (Jr., G, Cal State San Marcos)
Darius Mickens (Sr., F, Cal State San Bernardino)
Greg Milton III (Sr., G, Cal State San Marcos)
Toby Okwuokei (Sr., G, San Francisco State)