Cougars come up short against Cal Poly Pomona

Bri Savant, Sports Reporter

In a much-anticipated game, CSUSM’s men’s basketball team fell short against Cal Poly Pomona’s Broncos on Feb. 10 with a final score of 69-63, at the Sports Center.

With both teams vying for the number one spot in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) rankings, the basketball game attracted a crowd filled with hopeful onlookers. Every person’s gasp at a missed shot and every person’s cheer at a made shot were felt.

CSUSM’s junior, Bear Henderson, made a notable 3-pointer, while trying to tighten the score, making it 23-22, Broncos. The Broncos then led at 26-22 with 2:23 left in the first half. Bronco’s, Jordan Ogundiran, makes a 3-pointer making it 29-22, but the fight wasn’t over with Cougar Josh Spiers countering with a crucial 3 -pointer, narrowing it to 29-25, Broncos. Despite the efforts, Cougars were behind 32-27 at the end of the first half.  

Going into the second half with optimism, Cougars were catching up against the lead Broncos, 37-27 with 18 minutes left in the game. Spiers helped sustain a close game after his free throws, making it 39-34, Broncos.

The Broncos went on to get the jump on the Cougars with a score of 48-36 with 13:43 left in the game. Cougars buckled down and Senior Ethan Alvano assisted Spiers with an urgent 3-pointer generating a nine-point deficit.

With the Cougars picking up momentum, Alvano made a 3-pointer to take the lead against the Broncos at 51-50 with 8:29 remaining. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, the Broncos ended up taking back the lead. With 1:24 remaining, Alvano managed another 3-pointer, tightening it to 64-61. Cougars couldn’t make the comeback leaving it at 69-63.

The Cougars are now 18-6 overall and 13-5 in CCAA, and are currently in a three-way tie for second place with Chico State and UC San Diego. The Cougars will be traveling to Humboldt State for their matchup on Feb.15 at 7:30 p.m.