Mustang Daily Staff Report
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On the back of three double-figure scoring performances by Cal Poly starters, the Cal Poly men’s basketball team upset No. 11 UCLA 70-68 inside Pauley Pavilion on Sunday night for the biggest win in head coach Joe Callero’s tenure, the fourth-year coach said.
“It’s certainly the top victory in my career at Cal Poly,” Callero said. “It helps build the program. This is the second time we’ve played UCLA, and we’re starting to feel more comfortable in these larger arenas, more comfortable in front of 8-10,000 fans and playing great players. It doesn’t define us as a team, but it defines us for the night.
“It’s a great night in Cal Poly history.”
UCLA’s Jordan Adams missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer from the corner as time expired to give the Mustangs (2-2) a win against the Bruins for the first time in six meetings.
“When the game gets close with five minutes to go,” Callero said, “I think the pressure is more on them than us.”
Cal Poly erased an 18-point deficit in the final 12 minutes of play to grab its final advantage of the night when junior guard Kyle Odister sank two free throws with 12 seconds left.
The Mustangs played UCLA (4-2) close in first half as they entered the intermission down by just two points, but the Bruins came out firing in the second frame extending their halftime lead to 51-33 with 12:21 to go in the game.
But Cal Poly came roaring back with three 3-pointers from senior guard Dylan Royer in a span of three minutes that ignited the Mustangs offense late in the game. He led all scorers with 18 on the night — all coming from a career-high six 3-point buckets.
Odister added 15 points off the bench and sealed the historic win by going 3 of 4 from the free-throw line in the final 35 seconds.
Freshman forward Brian Bennett had another standout game as he racked up 16 points and four rebounds in his first game against a Pac-12 opponent.
Junior forward Chris Eversley contributed a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) as he played 39 of the 40 minutes in the win.
UCLA freshman guard Shabazz Muhammad led the Bruins with 15 points and 10 rebounds in his home debut.
The Mustangs are now 2-3 against Pac-12 opponents under Callero. Cal Poly defeated USC 42-36 in Los Angeles last season.
“I’ve got a permanent grin on my face right now,” Callero said. “I’m pretty dang happy.”