Photos by Ian Billings
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After leading at halftime once again, the Cal Poly men’s basketball team (12-11, 6-5 Big West Conference) was able to reverse its trend of losing leads, holding on to defeat Long Beach State 71-58.
The Mustangs were able to shut down the 49ers (13-14, 7-4) and their potent offense led by senior guard Mike Caffey, who is averaging 16.9 points on the year. Caffey was held to just eight points in 34 minutes of play, going 3 for 12 from the field, including 0 for 5 from 3-point range.
Cal Poly’s success continued on the offensive side of the ball. Junior forward Joel Awich had a game-high 19 points to go alongside seven rebounds, while junior guard Reese Morgan provided his usual spark off the bench, dropping in 18 points and going 4 for 8 from behind the arc.
The Mustangs are dealing with injuries, including junior guard and leading-scorer David Nwaba, who is out indefinitely with mononucleosis. Due to the circumstances, only eight Cal Poly players saw action and only six saw significant time.
Sophomore guard Ridge Shipley and junior forward Brian Bennett continued to help carry the load. Shipley finished with 14 points and four assists, while Bennett chipped in with 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
As a team, the Mustangs shot 47.1 percent from the field and an impressive 44.4 percent (12 of 27) from 3-point range while turning over the ball just 13 times.
With just five games left in Big West play, Cal Poly currently sits in a tie for sixth place with UC Riverside.
The top eight teams make the conference tournament, which, barring a complete disaster, seems to be a lock. The seeding though is still up for grabs, with three teams just two games or less ahead of the Mustangs in the Big West standings.
Cal Poly heads on the road next weekend to face last-place Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 19, then to UC Riverside on Feb. 21 for a key conference matchup.
The final three games may be the three most important — and toughest — of the season. Cal Poly will host second-place UC Irvine on Feb. 26, and then first-place UC Davis on Feb. 28. The Mustangs will then round out conference play at fourth-place UC Santa Barbara in the Thunderdome, a tough, hostile matchup regardless of the standings.
It may all not even matter, though, as last year’s Cal Poly squad knows. Once the Big West Tournament starts, anyone — even a No. 7 seed — can take home the trophy.