ROHNERT PARK -- With four games remaining on the regular season schedule, the Sonoma State men's basketball team looks to rally together to make a late season playoff push. Currently, the Seawolves are flashing a 9-13 overall record with a 7-11 mark in CCAA action, tied with Friday's opponent, Humboldt State, for the eighth spot in the conference standings. It will not be an easy road, however. In the four games remaining on SSU's schedule, three of the four teams are ahead of Sonoma State in the conference standings, including Saturday's opponent, Cal Poly Pomona, which comes in as the fourth-ranked team in Division II.
BROADCAST INFORMATION: Join Tim Davidson and Corey Neal on the broadcast, as they give you the action live from The Wolves' Den on Friday and Saturday night. Friday will be Band Night, followed by Senior Night on Saturday for the final home game of the regular season.
LAST FOUR GAMES: After completing the season sweep of Cal State Stanislaus two Friday's ago, Sonoma State went downhill, losing their next three games, including a loss to rival Chico State and a heartbreaking buzzer-beating loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills on the road last weekend. The Toros drained a shot with 0.9 seconds left on the clock to send the Seawolves off with a bad taste in their mouth. The Seawolves would not be able to get rid of the memory, falling to Cal State L.A., 66-56, the very next night.
Patrick Scott and
Will Olsem were able to provide double-digit scoring efforts in both of last weekend's games, acting as a silver lining for the ball club.
SCOUTING HUMBOLDT STATE: Bringing a two-game win streak into The Wolves' Den, the Lumberjacks of Humboldt State are attempting to make a playoff surge of their own. With a record of 11-11 overall and 7-11 in the CCAA, HSU finds itself tied with Sonoma State for the eighth place in the conference standings -- the top eight teams in the standings will earn a spot in the conference tournament in two weeks. The Seawolves took care of the 'Jacks in Arcata back in January in an exciting come-from-behind 62-58 victory. Although, Humboldt does hold the 46-38 all-time series advantage, and is 18-20 inside The Wolves' Den. The Lumberjacks' offense is powered by Austin Bryan and Rakim Brown, who are averaging 13.3 and 10.9 points per game, respectively.
SCOUTING CAL POLY POMONA: The fourth-ranked team in the nation, Cal Poly Pomona, comes into The Wolves' Den on Saturday night as the newly-crowned 2012-13 regular season champions of the CCAA, sporting an impressive 17-1 record in the conference and 21-1 overall. The Broncos' only loss came by way of second-place Cal State San Bernardino when the Coyotes beat the Broncos, 67-63, in Pomona. Since then, CPP has won twelve consecutive games. The Seawolves gave the Broncos a run for their money in their first meeting back on Jan. 17, staying within upset reach the entire game. Unfortunately, the Broncos reigned supreme, sending SSU home with the 70-61 loss. Cal Poly Pomona also leads the all-time series by a record of 25-15, as well as an 11-9 showing inside The Wolves' Den. The Broncos are carrying three scorers with double-figure averages on their roster in Mitchel Anderson (14.2 ppg), Terrence Drisdom (13.4 ppg), and Deronn Scott (10.2 ppg). In addition to his team-leading scoring average, Anderson ranks fourth in the conference with 7.8 rebounds per game. Also, Jordan Faison is second in the conference in field goal percentage, sinking 61.0 percent of his shots, while Bryce Brady finds himself at fifth in the CCAA with a 44.2 percent three-point field goal average.
UPSET WATCH: Sonoma State's last win over a nationally-ranked opponent was against then-No. 10-ranked Cal Poly Pomona last January in a 70-64 upset victory at home in The Wolves' Den. The Seawolves are 13-38 all-time against opponents ranked in the Top 25 of the NABC Division II Coaches' Poll.
RECORD WATCH: With a 64.2 percent clip in field goal percentage, a mark that leads the CCAA this season,
Justin Herold is on pace to set the single-season record for field goal percentage in SSU men's basketball history. Ed Madec last set the record during the 1995-96 season when he shot 63.1 percent from the floor.
SEAWOLF SENIOR SATURDAY: Prior to Saturday's contest with Cal Poly Pomona, the final home game for Sonoma State this season, four Seawolf seniors --
Andrew Bolton,
Will Olsem,
Patrick Scott and
Ryan Stanley -- will be honored in a special pre-game ceremony.
SEAWOLVES' NOTES: Patrick Scott has consistenly been atop the scoring leaders for the team and the conference this season averaging 16.6 points per game, currently. On top of his impressive scoring average, Scott holds a fourth place spot in three-point field goal percentage, sinking 45.4 percent of his shots from downtown. Sitting at third in the conference,
Will Olsem is shooting 45.8 percent from beyond the arc, in addition to his 14.4 points per game.
Justin Herold is currently third on the team in scoring average, netting an even 10.0 points per game. Herold has also accumilated 114 rebounds and 16 blocks on the season; each are team-leading numbers. Sonoma State is 17-21 all-time in their final home game of the season.
