Conference

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WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Cal Poly Pomona, coming off an appearance in the 2009 NCAA Division II National Championship game, has been selected to capture the 2009-10 CCAA men’s basketball title, according to a poll of league coaches that was announced on Thursday.

The Broncos totaled 115 points and received six first-place votes to finish ahead of Humboldt State. The Lumberjacks collected 113 points and five first-place votes, while Cal State San Bernardino was third after garnering 95 points and one first-place vote. The Coyotes (20-10, 15-5) defeated Cal State Monterey Bay, 80-78, in last year’s CCAA Tournament championship game.

Cal State Dominguez Hills, which shared the regular-season conference crown with Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino, was picked fourth after registering 87 points, and Cal State L.A. (70) was fifth. UC San Diego (68) placed sixth and was followed by Sonoma State (49), Chico State (48), San Francisco State (44), Cal State Monterey Bay (38), Cal State Stanislaus (31) and Cal State East Bay (13).

Cal State East Bay, which is in its first season as a member of the CCAA, is in ineligible for the conference title while going through its exploratory year.

Despite losing CCAA Most Valuable Player Larry Gordon, Cal Poly Pomona head coach Greg Kamansky returns a talented club that went 25-8 a year ago and lost a heart-breaking 56-53 overtime decision to Findlay in the national championship game in Springfield, Mass.

The Broncos, who earlier this fall received No. 4 (Division II Bulletin) and No. 9 (The Sporting News) preseason national rankings, are led by senior guard Austin Swift (10.2 ppg., 5.1 rpg., 2.6 apg.) and junior forward Tobias Jahn (9.4 ppg., 5.5 rpg.).

Humboldt State is coming off a 2008-09 season in which it went 20-12 and tied UC San Diego for fourth place with a 13-7 conference mark.. The Lumberjacks’ roster is highlighted by the return of senior guard Zac Tiedeman (13 ppg., 2.6 rpg., 4.1 apg.), senior forward Kevin Atkins (11.1 ppg.), sophomore forward Kyle Baxter (6.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg.) and junior guard Ernie Spada (8.6 ppg. and team-high 70 3-pointers).

The 2009-10 season will begin October 30 when San Francisco State opens play in the Third Annual Disney Tip-Off Classic at the Anaheim Convention Center. CCAA play begins December 3 when Cal State Dominguez Hills travels to Sonoma State and Humboldt State hosts Cal State L.A.

The CCAA Tournament is slated for March 2-6 with the semifinals and finals scheduled for March 5 and 6 at Lumberjack Arena on the campus of Humboldt State.

2009-10 CCAA Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll