Just south of the City of Lights, Cal Poly is set to square off against UC San Diego at Lee’s Family Forum. Last year the Mustangs made a deep run into the Big West Championships, but it was the Tritons who eventually won it all as the top seed. This year UC San Diego has stumbled down the Big West rankings, and has to play on opening night. The lowest seed to ever win the Big West Championship was Cal Poly in 2014 when they made their trek through the bracket as a seven seed. Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m., check in for live updates here!
8:15 p.m. Its final. Mousa gets a layup with seven seconds left on the clock to cut the lead to one, but the Mustangs can’t foul and an emphatic dunk by the Tritons end their season. It’s a 72-69 final in Henderson.
8:04 p.m. Cal Poly can’t score on the long possession following the timeout, and are forced to foul. Beattie makes both free throws but Hamad Mousa responds with a coast to coast layup. Cal Poly calls their last time out with 20.7 left and their season in jeopardy.
7:59 p.m. San Diego has take the lead, Tom Beattie with a pullup three and Bol Dengdit with an and-one have given the Tritons a two point lead with 1:15 left.
7:54 p.m. Last three minutes coming up with Cal Poly clinging on to a 61-59 lead. Tritons will have two free throws coming out of the media time out, but are desperately missing Mayes on the floor.
7:48 p.m. Mayes has fouled out with six minutes to play. His day ends with 23 points and the Tritons looking for anyone to pick up the scoring slack.
7:42 p.m. It looks like it will be a barnburner at Lee’s Family Forum. Cal Poly hasn’t scored a field goal in almost five minutes, but have been buoyed by their free throw shooting and the Tritons lack of it. Mustangs trail 53-51.
7:36 p.m Mike DeGeorge has seen enough and calls a timeout. The Tritons have taken a 53-49 lead, Hudson Mayes has 14 points in the half and is getting to his spots with ease.
7:33 p.m. UC San Diego has finally tied it at 49-49. They have dominated the second half in both their looks and shot making.
7:27 p.m. Things are getting chippy in Henderson. Peter Bandelj and Tom Beattie have some words for each other as they head to the benches for the Media timeout, and the referee calls them both over to have a chat. Mustangs hold a four point advantage with 12 minutes to play.
7:15 p.m UC San Diego has come out hot to start the second half, a 13-6 segment of play has cut the Mustang lead to just two points as we head into the first media time out. Hudson Mayes for the Tritons has 9 points in the half already.
Cal Poly looks to put away Tritons in second half
7:06 p.m. After a strong first half performance the Mustangs look to extend their lead against the Tritons as they start with possession
7:00 p.m. I cannot add, the lead is only nine points. Still Cal Poly has looked the better team through the first 20 minutes.
6:50 p.m. Cal Poly with a defensive stop on the last possession enters half time up 11. Usually the Mustangs are a first half team but have jumped out to a double digit first half lead.
6:42 p.m. Guzman Vasilic picks up his third personal foul just before the four minute media time out, hes also the leading scorer for the Mustangs with six points.. Cal Poly have committed eight fouls and UC San Diego will shoot free throws the rest of the way.
6:30 p.m. Cal Poly and UC San Diego are in a holding pattern, with Cal Poly maintaining their eight point lead into the media timeout.
6:20 p.m. Cal Poly is getting the shots to fall, and have extended their lead out to eight points early in the first half. A very even scoring effort from the Mustangs, no one has more than three points.
6:10 p.m. Through the fist five minutes, Cal Poly has gotten great looks but struggled to put them in. Mustangs lead 7-5 after the first media timeout.
6:03 p.m. And we are live! Cal Poly control the tip and we are underway at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, NV.