kiel carreauCal Poly went on a 19-2 run midway through its exhibition game against Cal Baptist on Tuesday night, turning a 27-19 deficit into a 38-29 advantage and went on to a 74-53 men’s basketball victory in Mott Gym.
The Mustangs trailed 29-28 at halftime but scored the first 10 points of the second half and pulled away for their second exhibition win. Cal Poly beat Cal Maritime 79-36 last week.
Gabe Stephenson and Chaz Thomas each scored 11 points and Travis Busch added 10 for Cal Poly. Derek Stockalper scored nine points and Dawin Whiten had eight, almost duplicating the Mustangs’ performance against Cal Maritime in which five Mustangs scored in double figures.
Peter Rajniak tallied 16 points and was the lone Cal Baptist player in double figures.
The Mustangs played sloppy and were out-hustled in the first half by a feisty Cal Baptist squad.
It appeared as if the Mustangs might be upset by the NAIA Div. I Lancers with the Mustangs down by a point going into halftime. The Mustangs were lethargic and sloppy on offense.
But the Mustangs came out of halftime with an increased fervor on the court, taking advantage of several fast break opportunities while increasing the tempo of the game.
Cal Poly out-rebounded Cal Baptist 38-35, led by Stockalper with nine, and the Mustangs forced 17 Lancer turnovers while committing 13 of their own.
Cal Poly made 43.6 percent of its floor shots, including seven of 19 from three-point range. Cal Baptist was just 31.6 percent from the floor, connecting on only three of its 12 three-point shots.
Both teams shot well from the free throw line, Cal Poly 19 of 24 (79.2 percent) and Cal Baptist 14 of 15 (93.3 percent).
Cal Poly officially opens its 2005-06 season on Friday, Nov. 18, against UC San Diego at 7 p.m. in Mott Gym.