IRVINE, Calif. - Cal Poly Pomona men's basketball moved to 2-0 on the season after surviving a late surge from Concordia to earn a gritty 75-73 road victory on Tuesday evening. The Broncos controlled most of the first half, built a double-digit lead, and held off several strong second-half pushes from Concordia to secure their second straight win.
The Broncos set the tone early with sharp shooting and transition offense, knocking down 60 percent of their field goals in the opening half. An early burst that included a fast-break layup from Zach Broadous and a three from Demarreya Lewis-Cooper helped CPP take a 7-2 lead. Lewis-Cooper continued attacking the rim and scoring efficiently, while Malcolm Bell powered his way to multiple finishes inside. Cal Poly Pomona's depth gave them an additional lift, as Shyheim Parm and Edric Dennis came off the bench to hit key shots and stretch the lead. CPP built its advantage to as many as 14, eventually carrying a 46-34 edge into halftime.
The second half featured a surge from Concordia, which tightened its defense and steadily worked its way back into the game. Concordia found momentum attacking the paint and generating pressure, eventually tying the score at 52-52. A brief lead change followed as turnovers by the Broncos opened the door for CUI, but CPP responded with resilience. A momentum-building dunk from Kevin Simeth shifted the energy, while Lewis-Cooper's jumper helped stabilize the offense. At the 8:22 mark, Anthony Orji knocked down a crucial three-pointer in his first collegiate game that put the Broncos back in front 61-60 as the game turned into a possession-by-possession battle.
The final minutes were tense, with neither team able to gain more than a one-possession advantage. Bell delivered one of the defining plays of the game, sprinting out for a fast-break layup that put Cal Poly Pomona ahead 73-70 with under a minute to play. Concordia answered with a deep three, bringing the margin to one, but CPP showed composure. Dennis hit an important free throw to extend the lead to 75-73, and Concordia Irvine's final shot at the buzzer rolled off the rim, allowing the Broncos to escape with the win.
Up Next:
The Broncos head to Hilo, HI for the Southwest Airlines Big Island Invitational where they will face UC Colorado Springs on Saturday, November 22nd at 6:00 PM PST.
Bronco Bits:
- Greg Kamansky is now 472-216 as the head coach of the Broncos
- Now in its 78th season, CPP Men's Basketball is 1,168-924 all-time with a 508-416 record in CCAA games
- Demarreya Lewis-Cooper led Cal Poly Pomona with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, making key plays throughout the night.
- Malcolm Bell added 12 points and 4 rebounds.
- The Broncos' bench was a major factor, outscoring Concordia's reserves 27–11.
- Cal Poly Pomona turned defense into offense, scoring 23 points off turnovers.
- CPP controlled the interior, winning the points-in-the-paint battle 38–28.
