TURLOCK, Calif. — Stan State men's basketball battled back in the second half Sunday afternoon but came up just short in a 93–88 loss to Cal Poly Pomona inside Fitzpatrick Arena. Five Warriors scored in double figures, led by Malachi Johnson's 23 points, while Javon Johnson added 15 off the bench. Lloyd French posted his first career double-double with 11 points and 12 assists, Jason Zimmer finished with 11 points, and Donjae Lindsey added 10 as Stan State shot 54.0 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from three.

First Half
Cal Poly Pomona set the tone early with efficient perimeter shooting, opening the game by making eight of its first 11 shots from the field and jumping out to a quick lead. Stan State settled in offensively behind Malachi Johnson, who scored nine first-half points, and Zimmer, who knocked down a pair of three-pointers to keep the Warriors within striking distance. Despite shooting 50 percent from the field in the opening half, Stan State trailed 50–40 at the break as the Broncos connected on 67.9 percent of their first-half shots and drained eight three-pointers.

Second Half
Stan State came out of the locker room with renewed energy, shooting 57.6 percent in the second half and repeatedly attacking the paint. Javon Johnson provided a spark off the bench with strong finishes inside, while Malachi Johnson continued to score at all three levels. The Warriors pulled within five points multiple times in the final four minutes, highlighted by late baskets from Lindsey and French, but Cal Poly Pomona answered each surge with timely shots and free throws to preserve the win.

Warrior Notables
• Malachi Johnson led Stan State with 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting.
• Javon Johnson scored 15 points off the bench on 6-of-10 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds.
• Lloyd French recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 12 assists.
• Jason Zimmer added 11 points and hit three three-pointers.
• Donjae Lindsey contributed 10 points and two assists.

Team Notes
Stan State fell to 5–5 overall and 1–3 in CCAA play, while Cal Poly Pomona improved to 8–2 overall and 3–1 in conference action. The Warriors shot 54.0 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from three-point range but were outpaced by the Broncos, who shot 66.0 percent overall and 68.4 percent from beyond the arc. Stan State finished with 24 assists on 34 made field goals while committing just 11 turnovers. French's 12 assists were a career high and came with only one turnover. Zimmer added two assists without committing a turnover, Cibull contributed three assists, and Lindsey and Javon Johnson combined for four assists against two turnovers. The Warriors held a 40–30 edge in points in the paint and finished with 26 bench points, but Cal Poly Pomona's 13 made three-pointers proved decisive. The Broncos led wire-to-wire, though Stan State closed the game with multiple late runs to cut the margin to five in the final minute.

Up Next
Stan State returns to Fitzpatrick Arena in two weeks to continue its homestand, hosting Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday, January 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Cal State San Marcos on Sunday, January 4 at 3 p.m.