SPORTSCOPE : Pomona Men’s Team Plays Key Road Game

A berth in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. postseason men’s basketball tournament could be at stake at 8 p.m. Friday when Cal Poly Pomona visits Cal State Los Angeles.

Pomona could clinch its first-ever berth in the tournament and eliminate Cal State L.A. with a victory. The Broncos (13-12 overall, 5-5 in league play) enter the game in fourth place in the CCAA. Cal State L.A. (11-14, 4-6) is in sixth place.

In the first meeting between the teams Jan. 12 in Pomona, the Broncos defeated Cal State L.A., 59-57. But the Golden Eagles have improved considerably in recent games, including a 76-74 victory over NCAA Division I opponent Cal State Northridge last week.

The Broncos defeated Chapman, 77-63, last week before dropping a 70-68 decision to Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Pomona has been sparked by the play of senior All-CCAA forward Terry Ross, who leads the conference in scoring with a 23.3-point average and the Broncos in rebounding at 8.9.

Ross needs 36 points in his final two regular-season games to pass Joe Sills as the school’s all-time scoring leader. He enters the final two games with 1,059 points. Ross is also eighth in career rebounds with 496.

Cal State L.A. has been led by junior swingman Kelvin Harris, who averages 11.8 points, and the top rebounder is sophomore center Chris Brooks with 8.3. The Golden Eagles will be trying to reach the conference tournament for the second consecutive season.

But in order to reach the tournament, the Golden Eagles may also need to defeat conference co-leader UC Riverside in their regular-season finale at 8 p.m. Saturday at Cal State L.A. Riverside, tied for first with Cal State Bakersfield, is 19-5 and 7-3.

Pomona’s hopes of reaching the postseason tournament may also rest on the outcome of its final game against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo at 8 Saturday in San Luis Obispo. The Mustangs (14-11, 6-4) are in third place in the CCAA.

The postseason tournament will be held March 1 and 2 at either Riverside or Bakersfield.

The Cal State Los Angeles women’s basketball team has already clinched a berth in the four-team California Collegiate Athletic Assn. postseason tournament.

But the Golden Eagles can improve their seeding for the tournament with a victory this week in its final two games of the regular season. Cal State L.A. (12-14, 4-4) is tied for third with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. It will play host to conference-leading Cal Poly Pomona at 5:45 p.m. Friday and second-place UC Riverside at 5:45 Saturday.

Cal State L.A. has been led by the play of junior forward Lori Thompson, who averages 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in conference play.