The Cal Poly men’s basketball team extended its losing streak to five games after dropping yet another close game, losing 73-70 to Long Beach State on Thursday night.
Cal Poly (8-15, 2-8 Big West) trailed the 49ers (13-12, 7-3) for the majority of the game, with the Mustangs only leading by four points for three minutes at the start of the game.
The first half ended at 35-24, with senior guard David Nwaba scoring half of the Mustangs’ points. Long Beach State made exactly half of its shots in the first half while the Mustangs mustered just 30 percent shooting.
However, the Mustangs played stronger in the second half, as the team started chipping away at the double-digit deficit. Sophomore forward Luke Meikle sparked what seemed to be a Cal Poly comeback, breaking the 49ers’ double-digit lead on a three-pointer that left the Mustangs nine points behind their opponents with 3:30 left in the game.
Freshman guard Trevor John hit a three-pointer two minutes later to bring the deficit to only four points, but the 49ers made six consecutive free throws – despite having shot just 45 percent from the line up until that point. Meikle connected on a jumper with 16 seconds left, then John converted three-point play with two seconds on the clock to bring the score to 73-70, where it stayed until the final whistle.
Nwaba managed to put up 24 points, 13 rebounds and five assists during Thursday’s game, his second career double-double. Senior guard Reese Morgan scored 17 points for the Mustangs, and John added a career-high nine points.
The men’s basketball team has yet to beat the 49ers in an away game since 2010.
The Mustangs continue on the road, traveling to UC Riverside on Saturday to face the Highlanders at 7:30. The game will be televised on FOX Sports West.