Sports

Although the stands in Mott Gym were packed with Cal Poly supporters wearing green, yellow and painted faces, the Mustangs were unable to pull out a win before 2,755 spectators Saturday evening in a 72-62 Big West Conference defeat to rival UC Santa Barbara.

Women’s basketball, UCSB 55, Cal Poly 45 Despite a 12-point halftime lead in which Cal Poly held UC Santa Barbara to just 19 percent shooting from the field, the Mustangs (9-7, 2-3 Big West Conference) fell to the conference-leading Gauchos on Saturday afternoon.

Rivalries never die. They may lose their luster some years, but the bad blood never quite goes away.

When the Cal Poly (3-11, 0-4 Big West Conference) men’s basketball team and UC Santa Barbara (7-9, 1-3) meet at 7 p.m. on Saturday in Mott Gym, the bad blood will be rekindled.

Although the stands in Mott Gym were packed with Cal Poly supporters wearing green, yellow and painted faces, the Mustangs were unable to pull out a win before 2,755 Saturday evening in a 72-62 Big West Conference defeat to rival UC Santa Barbara.

The Mustangs began play strong leading for the first 12 minutes until a layup by Gauchos senior guard D.

Cal Poly looked to avenge its PAC 10-opening loss to Cal State Bakersfield in its dual with Cal State Fullerton, but the Titans, who rode in on the coattails of a three-match win streak in duals competition, downed the struggling Mustangs 28-9 Wednesday night at Mott Gym.

The Cal Poly women’s basketball team and UC Santa Barbara have been in a number of wars over the last few years.

The Mustangs (9-6, 2-2 Big West Conference) and Gauchos (9-6, 4-0) will get reacquainted on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Thunderdome.

Let the battle recommence.

The Cal Poly wrestling team will take the mat for the final home dual of the season when they meet Pac-10 rival Cal State Fullerton at 6:30 tonight in Mott Gym.

The Mustangs began their conference schedule dropping a 24-10 decision to Cal State Bakersfield.

It’s well known that some of the biggest deals of the year fall on the Friday after Thanksgiving. But for former Cal Poly head football coach Rich Ellerson, his deal came the Friday after Christmas.

So on the day after most families huddled around the Christmas tree to open presents, the United States Military Academy at West Point selected Ellerson to command the Black Knights football program, a move many of his associates and players at Cal Poly were not surprised by.

The nationwide search for Rich Ellerson’s replacement needed to look no further than the former Cal Poly football coach’s future destination.

Flanked by athletic director Alison Cone and Cal Poly President Warren Baker, former Army offensive coordinator Tim Walsh was named Cal Poly’s 16th head coach on Friday.

The Mustangs suffered their sixth-straight loss after falling short defensively in an 80-63 Big West Conference men’s basketball game against UC Irvine Saturday night at Mott Gym.

Cal Poly (3-11, 0-4 Big West Conference) led early on, but the score quickly changed in a back and forth first half that included three ties and three lead changes.

The Mustangs (3-10, 0-3 Big West Conference) fell to Cal State Fullerton (7-8, 1-2) 86-82 in Mott Gym in a game that was nationally televised by ESPNU. Cal Poly senior guard Chaz Thomas led the Mustangs with 23 points.

Titans senior guard Josh Akognon led all scorers with 26 points.