SEATTLE, Wash. - In a hard-fought battle, the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos emerged victorious over the Azusa Pacific Cougars, 66-58, in both teams' season opener. The win was a statement for the Broncos, who showcased depth and resilience, with 10 players seeing action and 9 of them scoring.
The game was tightly contested from start to finish. The two teams were tied at 33-33 after a back-and-forth first half, with both squads exchanging blows but neither able to seize control. Demarreya Lewis-Cooper opened the scoring for the Broncos with a 3-pointer, setting the tone for a game that would be defined by close calls and clutch moments.
Just four minutes into the half, Cal Poly Pomona began to edge ahead, though the Cougars managed to stay within striking distance. Despite trailing by just one point for the majority of the second half, Azusa Pacific kept pushing. With eight minutes remaining, they managed to knot the game at 50-50, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
However, it was in the final minutes that the Broncos took control. With just under four minutes left, Cal Poly Pomona made their move, pushing ahead by four points with just over two minutes remaining. From there, the Broncos capitalized on timely baskets and solid defense to seal the win, finishing with a 66-58 scoreline.
Jaden Winfield and Shyheim Parm led the Broncos' offensive attack, each finishing with 14 points. The team's balanced scoring effort saw key contributions from multiple players. In addition to Winfield and Parm, Demarreya Lewis-Cooper, Caleb Nelson, Kevin Simeth, and Sam Hunter all added at least 5 points, showcasing the Broncos' depth. Despite a determined effort from Azusa Pacific, the Broncos' late-game execution proved to be the difference, as they secured a strong opening win.
Up Next
The Broncos will play Seattle Pacific on Saturday, November 9th at 7:30 PM.
Bronco Bits
- Greg Kamansky is now 453-206 as the head coach of the Broncos.
- The Broncos are now 30-18 against Azusa Pacific.
- Cal Poly Pomona was ranked seventh in the CCAA Preseason Poll.
Latest All Athletics News
- O’Sullivan Named CCAA Coach of the Year, Nine Broncos Receive All-CCAA HonorsNine different Cal Poly Pomona men's soccer student-athletes received all-conference recognition on Wednesday night, in addition to head coach Matt O'Sullivan being named CCAA Coach of the Year for the first time in his career. The team's nine selections ties a program-high, and was the most in the conference.
- Volleyball Ranked No. 1 in First Regional RankingsThe Cal Poly Pomona volleyball team was ranked No. 1 in the first NCAA Division II West Region rankings on Wednesday afternoon, it was announced on NCAA.com HERE.
- Cruz and Mason Earn Individual Honors, Broncos Tie Program Record With Nine All-CCAA HonoreesNine Cal Poly Pomona women's soccer student-athletes earned All-CCAA recognition on Wednesday morning, tying the most in a season in program history.
- Men’s Cross Country Receives At-Large Bid for 24th Appearance at NationalsThe Cal Poly Pomona men's cross country team received an at-large bid into the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships on Monday afternoon, it was announced via press release on NCAA.com. It is the team's 24th appearance at the national championships in program history, and their ninth in the past 11 seasons.
- Big Fourth Quarter Leads No. 19 Broncos to First WinThe Cal Poly Pomona women's basketball team picked up their first win of the season on Saturday night, defeating Point Loma by a score of 71-66. After trailing 30-26 at the end of the first half, the Broncos kicked it into high gear with 45 points in the second half to come back for the victory.
- Volleyball Clinches First CCAA Regular Season Title Since 2005For the first time since 2005, Cal Poly Pomona volleyball has won the CCAA regular season title! Their 3-0 win against Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday night secured at least a co-championship, and just one win next week will secure an outright regular season title.