 "Photo: Jonny Tai/Poly Post")
 "Photo: Jonny Tai/Poly Post")
 "Photo: Jonny Tai/Poly Post")
Update: The Broncos will play the Dixie State College Red Storm of St. George, Utah this Friday at Western Washington University in Bellingham.
Cal Poly’s men’s basketball team lost in the CCAA Tournament Final, but will compete in the NCAA West Regionals
Cal Poly’s men’s basketball team made it all the way to the final of the CCAA Tournament over the weekend before losing to Cal State San Bernardino 58-52.
The Broncos reached the final after defeating Cal State Los Angeles 57-45 and Chico State 80-77.
Despite the loss, the Broncos have secured a spot in the NCAA West Regionals beginning Friday.
As of print, the Broncos opponent is yet to be determined, but will be known today.
The first game will be played in Bellingham, Wash. Although the eight teams have been decided, BYU Hawaii finished its season last night, delaying the final seeding until today.
Last year, the Broncos were eliminated from the CCAA Tournament in the semifinals before continuing to the NCAA Championship Game.
“We know we need to perform night in and night out,” said junior forward Donnelle Booker. “We have to treat every game like its playoffs. We’re in playoff mode all the time.”
In the first round of the CCAA Tournament, the Broncos hosted Cal State Los Angeles in front of more than 1,100 fans at Kellogg Gym.
“The fans really do make a difference,” said Kamansky. “The last two home games had over a thousand people; that’s amazing.”
The players relished the earned home-court advantage and pulled off a strong win with high energy and excitement.
“When you’re tired, it gives you that little bit extra,” said Booker.
Having sealed a spot in the top eight for the West Region, the Broncos could have conserved energy in the tournament, to rest for the NCAA bracket.
Instead, the Broncos played hard and made the final.
“We’re not going up there to throw a dud,” Kamansky said before the trip to Arcata.
The Broncos are no strangers to playing big games on the road, having played nine of the final 13 regular season games on the road and winning all of them.
“We’ve been on the road for a while, so we’re used to it,” said Broncos head coach Greg Kamansky. “We’re road warriors.”
The CCAA tourney games saw some big individual performances from Broncos.
Sophomore forward Dwayne Fells scored a career-high 19 points at the CCAA semifinal against Chico State.
Freshman Mitchel Anderson scored a career-high 17 points in the CCAA Championship game against the Coyotes.
“We’re not dependent on one player, we need everyone to be performing,” said Kamansky.
Reach Elliot Heis at: sports@thepolypost.com
Be the first to comment on this article!