With another shot at three conference victories in a row for the first time since 2017, Cal Poly Men’s Basketball will head to Northridge to face CSUN for the second time this season on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 5 p.m.
The Mustangs (10-15, 4-9 Big West) have been riding high recently, having won five of their last six games and being comfortably in control by the end of all their victories.
The Matadors (17-7, 9-4 Big West) sit comfortably in third place in the Big West after holding off Long Beach on Thursday.
Depth shines at Fullerton
The Mustangs showcased their depth on Thursday, as five players scored in double figures in a 98-83 victory against Fullerton.
Freshman guard Cayden Ward led Cal Poly with a collegiate-high 19 points. Graduate guards Owen Koonce and Jarred Hyder were just behind him with 17 each, while graduate guard Mac Riniker and freshman guard Peter Bandelj finished with 15 and 12 points, respectively.
The Mustangs trailed 7-0 to open the game before Ward helped level the game with three three-pointers in the first half.
Cal Poly’s offense was lights out as they shot just under 60% from the field and hit 13 three-pointers in the second period to put Fullerton away.
With the win, the Mustangs now sit at eighth in the Big West conference. If they stay within the top eight seeds, they will earn a bid to the Big West Tournament that will run from Mar. 12-15.
A chance at redemption
In their first game against CSUN this season on Dec. 7, 2024, the Mustangs fell behind early as they played an uninspiring first half in which they shot just 26% from the field.
Cal Poly was without Hyder and senior guard Isaac Jessup, two of their top scorers. They gave up 54 points in the paint as Matador players feasted on the inside.
The second half, however, was a different story. Cal Poly outscored CSUN 57-51 in the second half, at one point bringing what was a 24-point deficit within one score before the Matadors pulled away at the end.
This time around, the Mustangs will look to put together a complete performance in both halves as they rematch CSUN with their second and third-leading scorers back during a hot streak.
CSUN and Cal Poly will tip off at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Premiere America Credit Union Arena.