Cal Poly men implode in final Vegas game

By Michelle Gardner

Staff Writer

LAS VEGAS - Cal Poly basketball coach Greg Kamansky buried his
head in his hands and stared at the floor in disbelief. Two of his
players had just bobbled a loose ball and a Central Washington player
scooped it up for an easy put back giving the Wildcats a 14-point
lead.

There were still 12 minutes left but Kamansky knew his team wasn't
coming back. That premonition proved true as the reeling Broncos
suffered a 84-66 loss in their second game of the Great Western
Shootout at the Centennial Hills Center in Las Vegas Wednesday.

The loss dropped the Broncos to 1-5 on the season, although the
good new is that an 0-4 part of that is non-conference play. It is
the worst start for the school since going 1-6 to start the 1981-82
season.

After the game Kamansky kept his team in the lockerroom for 90
minutes. There was considerable shouting audible from the adjacent
hallway.

``In all of these games we have had leads,'' Kamansky said. ``But
in every one we have a good 10 minutes and then self destruct. We
don't have that mentality that allows us to respond when things get
tough. Instead we just fall apart. That has to change soon.''

Even though it is early the frustration is showing on the court as
well. Senior center Kaelen Daniels was ejected with 7:15 left in the
first half and the Broncos up 21-20. Donnelle Booker had just been at
the free-throw line and Daniels got tangled up with a Wildcat player
underneath and was said to have thrown a punch.

Kamansky argued vehemently and was assessed a technical foul. Matt
Penoncello only made two of four technicals tosses but Giovonne Woods
drained a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession, giving Central a 25-21
lead.

Kamansky said he didn't see what was called. He thought Daniels
had been being held all game by Central's Bryce Daub, something a
Bronco assistant had asked the referees to watch. The coach thought
Daniels was only trying to clear some room but will watch the video
to see exactly what happened.

``I don't want to say that cost us the game, but it was a momentum
changer,'' Kamansky added. ``And we don't have the kind of team that
answers adversity in a positive manner.''


The Broncos were within two at 25-23 seconds later but it was all
Wildcats (4-3) after that. Central outscored Cal Poly 14-7 the rest
of the half and led 39-30 at the intermission.

Things didn't get any better after that. The Wildcats started the
second half with an 11-4 run and never looked back.


Junior forward Larry Gordon made up for a poor showing in the first
half of Tuesday's loss to Western Washington with 23 points, 10
rebounds,four blocks and two assists.

But he didn't have a lot of help. Senior guard Angelo Tsagarakis
netted 10 but six of those were from the free-throw line. He went
just 2-of-8 from the field including an 0-for-5 from long distance.

The numbers actually made the contest look closer than it was with
Central Washington shooting 48.3 percent (25-for-58) and Cal Poly
Pomona managing 44 (22-for-50). Central went 17-for-26 for the line
while the Broncos went 19-for-28 but the Wildcats were aided by an
11-for-23 effort from 3-point range compared to a 3-of-15 for the
Broncos.

Central Washington had four players finish in double figures led
by Penoncello with 18 and Nate Jackson with 17.

Next up for the Broncos is non-conference game against Division II LeMoyne on Dec. 30. Kamansky said he is not sure whether the ejection means Daniels will have to sit out that game.