Cal Poly Men’s Basketball’s late surge fell short against Montana, losing 90-82 inside Dahlberg Arena on Friday.
The Mustangs (2-3) led for only a minute against the Grizzlies (4-1) but were able to keep the game competitive until the buzzer.
The first half for both teams was a sloppy affair. Cal Poly was unable to get a rhythm in the half aside from a 9-0 run to take a temporary lead.
A 1-for-9 first half from behind the arc limited the Mustang offense, forced to try and get into the paint and score down low.
Defensively they were able to junk up the Montana offense. A large part of that was Montana’s leading scorer Money Williams was limited to just ten minutes in the first half after picking up two quick fouls.
The Grizzlies shot just 30% from deep and the first half ended in a defensive battle at just 37-26 at halftime.
The second half was more of the pace that Cal Poly is used to playing, with more shots being put up and more shots being made.
Guards Cayden Ward, Peter Bandelj and Jake Davis all scored in double digits in the half.
At one point in the second half it appeared that Cayden Ward had fouled out, but he was given an extra foul and was able to return to the game and spark the offense.
But the second half belonged to Williams, at one point scoring 12 straight for the Grizzlies. That helped hold off the Mustangs’ own late scoring run, and allowed Montana to win on a night where they hung their Big Sky championship banner.
The Mustangs were missing their leading scorer in Hamad Mousa, who has been one of their primary sources of offense both with and without the ball in his hands.
Forward Ali Assran had 12 rebounds off the bench, while Bandelj paced Cal Poly in scoring with 21 points.
Cal Poly heads home for a spell before continuing their six-game road trip this time heading to Salt Lake City, to take on the Utah Utes. That matchup will take place on Thursday, Nov. 20 at the Jon M. Huntsman Center at 6 p.m.
