ARCATA, Calif. – In an exciting Cal Poly Clash showdown, the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos came out on top, defeating the Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjacks 75-69. This victory moved the Broncos closer to claiming the inaugural Cal Poly Clash title.

The game began with the Broncos coming out strong in the first half, but the Lumberjacks stayed within striking distance, never trailing by more than four points. Both teams traded baskets, and the first half ended with the score tied at 31-31, setting the stage for a competitive second half.

In the second half, the Broncos returned with increased intensity. Kevin Simeth opened the scoring with a dunk, but the Lumberjacks quickly responded, tying the game once again. Despite Humboldt's efforts, the Broncos started to build momentum. Just a minute after the dunk, Demarreya Lewis-Cooper drilled a crucial three-pointer, helping to push the Broncos ahead.

As the half progressed, the Broncos gradually increased their lead, maintaining a five-point advantage for much of the period. With 6:42 remaining, the Broncos reached their largest lead of the game, going up by 10 points at 65-55. Though the Lumberjacks made a late push, the Broncos held their ground, finishing the game with a 75-69 victory.

Throughout the contest, the Broncos led for 65.9% of the game, and their shooting performance improved in the second half. Demarreya Lewis-Cooper led the charge with 13 points, while Sam Hunter added 12 points. In total, 11 Broncos contributed to the scoring effort, showcasing the team's depth. On the defensive end, Jaden Winfield was a standout, pulling down a season-high 10 rebounds to help secure the win.

Cal Poly Clash
Saturday afternoon's matchup between Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly Humboldt was the first iteration of the Cal Poly Clash for men's basketball, a new year-long rivalry between the two athletics departments across 10 CCAA-sponsored sports.
 
For men's and women's basketball, the team that claims the most head-to-head wins in a given season will claim the full point toward the rivalry. If the teams split the season series (e.g. one to one), then each will receive half a point. The Broncos currently lead 5-0 out of 10 possible points thanks to a strong fall, securing at least a tie of the rivalry during the inaugural season. CPP can claim the rivalry win as early as the basketball postseason.  

Up Next
The Broncos will return to Kellogg Arena for another CCAA match-up against Cal State Monterey Bay on Thursday, January 16^th at 7:30 PM.

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