Cal Poly Men’s Basketball is just one win away from matching its season win total last year just six games into the schedule. The team took its three-game win streak on the road to Tempe, Arizona, to take on scorching-hot Arizona State, ultimately falling 93-89.
The Mustangs (3-3) were fueled by graduate guard Jarred Hyder and his career night. But it’s clear that a statement was made against the Sun Devils (5-1), and Cal Poly is taking major strides from the last couple of seasons.
Though the Mustangs carried plenty of momentum into this game, they were considered the underdog. Cal Poly was quick to set the tone early.
DeGeorge’s offense continues to shine
Graduate guard Mac Riniker would set that tone early providing a spark to this Cal Poly attack.
The Mustangs fell to an early 10-point deficit in the first 10 minutes of game action. Rinker took a dribble handoff from Hyder strong to the basket for a ferocious two-handed slam of the long wingspan of Sun Devil forward Jayden Quantiance.
The fast-paced offense head coach Mike DeGeorge instilled in this Mustang program proved to be very efficient, especially when Hyder was hot.
Jared Hyder erupted for seven three-pointers finishing with his career-high 27 points. When Cal Poly needed a big shot it was Hyder who delivered.
The graduate point guard was one three-pointer shy of tying the program record of eight three-point field goals made in a single game. Hyder also added three assists and four rebounds while playing a team-high 35 minutes.
Aiding the Mustang attack was senior guard Issac Jessup, adding 17 points on the night.
The majority of Jessup’s scoring came from three-pointers in the corner.
Cal Poly created penetration to the inside of the paint, but when the Sun Devil front court stepped up to contest, they left the corners open, and Jessup took advantage of his open looks.
Jessup’s shooting has been outstanding for Cal Poly through the first six games this season. The senior has shot a team-leading 46% from the three-point range and is also in the top five for three-point percentage in the Big West.
Defense physically outmatched
On the other side of the ball, Cal Poly’s defense struggled to contain the size of Arizona State.
At first glance, the Sun Devils’ height looks down upon the Mustangs’ biggest players. Arizona State has four players at six feet 10 inches or taller than Cal Poly’s lone player, who stands at six feet nine inches.
The Sun Devils outrebounded the Mustangs 44-24. Despite the large difference in numbers, the Mustangs only allowed 12 second-chance points
The Arizona State offense took advantage at the free-throw line. They hit 27-41 free throws in the game and put Cal Poly in foul trouble.
Late in the game, the Sun Devils size got themselves to the free-throw line almost every possession, separating the teams and ending every run the Mustangs tried to put together.
DeGeorge has now led a team in just six total Division-I basketball games and was on the edge of breaking more than a decade-long drought of losses to a Power-5 school.
The last time the Mustangs took down a Power -5 university was against No. 11 UCLA Bruins 13 years ago on November 5, 2012.
While a four-point loss to Arizona State doesn’t break that 13-year drought, it is a sign that they can compete with everyone on their schedule so far.
It proves that the new scheme that DeGeorge and his assistants are running can be effective in Division I basketball, and his players have thrived.
Cal Poly will continue the search for its breakthrough victory and road trip by heading to Moraga, CA, for a matchup with the undefeated Saint Mary’s Gaels on Saturday, Nov. 23.
