POMONA, Calif. - Cal Poly Pomona secured a 67-64 victory over conference opponent Chico State on Thursday night, improving to 14-11 overall and 9-10 in CCAA play. In a tightly contested matchup that featured six ties and five lead changes, the Broncos relied on balanced scoring and timely execution down the stretch to defend their home court.
The Wildcats opened the game with early momentum, knocking down back-to-back three pointers to jump out to an 8-0 lead. Pomona took a timeout and came out of the break with renewed composure, executing efficiently on both ends to regain momentum and shift the pace of the game. Malcolm Bell provided the initial spark with strong finishes inside, and the Broncos began to settle into their offensive rhythm. Defensive stops soon turned into transition opportunities, allowing the Broncos to chip away at the deficit.
Midway through the first half, Cal Poly Pomona found its stride from the perimeter. Michael Saba connected from deep, and Jake Goldberg followed with a three pointer of his own to stretch the lead. Demarreya Lewis-Cooper added a pair of key baskets during the run, helping the Broncos build their largest advantage of the half at 30-19. Chico State answered late, but Pomona maintained control and carried a 32-29 lead into halftime.
The second half brought continued back and forth action. Chico State briefly reclaimed the lead behind timely outside shooting, but the Broncos answered with composure. Goldberg and Lewis-Cooper combined for key three pointers, while Saba converted at the free throw line to keep the game within reach during a critical stretch.
With the score tied at 56 inside the five-minute mark, Lewis-Cooper delivered consecutive baskets to swing momentum back to the Broncos. Moments later, Bell knocked down a three pointer to extend the lead to five. Saba added a steady mid-range jumper, and Bell connected again in the final minute to push the advantage to seven.
Chico State made one final push in the closing seconds, trimming the deficit to three, but the Broncos remained poised. Strong rebounding and late defensive stops sealed the conference win.
Up Next:
The Broncos will recognize their seniors prior to their final regular season home contest, hosting Cal Poly Humboldt in the Cal Poly Clash on Saturday, February 21 at 3:00 PM.
Bronco Bits:
- Greg Kamansky is now 484-227 as the head coach of the Broncos
- Now in its 78th season, CPP Men's Basketball is 1,180-935 all-time with a 517-426 record in CCAA games
- Demarreya Lewis-Cooper led the Broncos with 18 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the field and adding three steals
- Malcolm Bell and Jake Goldberg each contributed 15 points, combining for 12 made field goals
- Asher Schroeder pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds
- The game featured six ties and five lead changes
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