The winter sports season is underway at Stanislaus State, with the men’s and women’s basketball teams having tipped off their Central California Athletic Association campaigns and members of the track and field program putting in career performances.
Stan State opened its indoor season with a strong all-around performance at the Silver State Invitational on Dec. 5 and 6, led by Alexis Nino's record-setting weekend. Nino broke the school record in the shot put and earned an NCAA Division II provisional qualifying mark with her throw of 45-7 (13.89m).
The sprint and jump squads also produced standout marks, highlighted by Mila Real's 25.40 in the 200-meter dash, which elevated her to No. 2 on the all-time list, and Reyna Dismukes improving her No. 3 all-time long jump mark with a career-best 18-5 (5.61m) while also moving to No. 8 all-time in the 60-meter dash after running 8.12. Ahlia Albergottie added a strong debut to the season as well, clocking 27.33 in the 200-meter dash to contribute to the encouraging start for Stan State across all event groups.
"With 13 personal bests, three top 10 all-time performances, with one of them being a school record and NCAA provisional qualifying mark, I can say the ladies came up here and stepped up in a competitive environment,” said head coach Troy Johnson. “Very proud of these ladies and this is just the start… We are working hard and dedicated to improve every opportunity we get. Assistant throwers' coach Casey Ballinger has done a great job with our program."
Montana State pulls away late in FCS semifinal
In a weekend in which the College Football Playoff dominated headlines, it was the FCS playoff that proved to have the most competitive (and wild) matchups of the postseason thus far, with No. 2 Montana State outlasting No. 3 Montana, 48-23, on Saturday. It was Montana’s 13th appearance in the semifinal round.
The final score was certainly not indicative of the wild, back-and-forth affair that took place through much of the first three quarters. The Grizzlies trailed 20-3 in the second quarter before the offense, which featured Turlock High graduate Everett Johnson at right tackle, came alive, scoring 20 unanswered points to take a 23-20 lead midway through the third quarter — the team’s first lead on the road in Bozeman since 2017.
Johnson, a senior who has started in all but three games this season due to injury and served as a team captain in last weekend’s 52-22 quarterfinal win against No. 11 South Dakota, was in for nearly every Griz drive on Saturday. Montana outgained MSU in the passing game as Keali'i Ah Yat racked up 251 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Eli Gillman rushed for 106 yards and a score.
The 23-20 advantage wouldn't last long though as MSU piled on 28 unanswered points of their own down the stretch to pull away.
The Griz closed the season at 13-2, both losses coming against the Bobcats. Following the 125th meeting between the rivals Saturday, Montana now leads the all-time series 74-45-5 and leads 24-23-3 all-time in Bozeman.
Warriors fall to Cal Poly Pomona to open CCAA homestands
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.
The Warriors 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.
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. The Warriors 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.
The Warriors 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.
Stan State’s women’s team, meanwhile, closed the weekend with a 75–37 home loss to No. 15 Cal Poly Pomona on Sunday afternoon. The Broncos improved to 9–1 overall and 4–0 in CCAA play with the win, while the Warriors moved to 1–6 overall and 0–4 in conference action.
Both teams will return to “The Fitz” for doubleheaders in two weeks to continue the homestand, hosting Cal State Monterey Bay on Jan. 2 and Cal State San Marcos on Jan. 4.
