Coming off its first conference win in over 700 days, Cal Poly will take on CSU Bakersfield on Thursday, Jan. 30, at the Icardo Center, looking to win back-to-back conference games for the first time since March 2022.
The Mustangs (7-14, 1-8 Big West) have lost the last 12 games to the Roadrunners (10-11, 4-5 Big West.)
The game against Bakersfield is the first of two home games; Cal Poly will play UC Riverside on Saturday.
Offensive adjustments pay off
Cal Poly has shot 30 or more threes in 15 of its 21 games this season. However, in its win over Long Beach State, it shot just 16 threes, its lowest total.
Instead the Mustangs relentlessly attacked the rim, scoring 46 points in the paint and getting to the free throw line.
Despite the shot selection change, the offense flowed all night long, starting with an 8-0 run and never looking back.
Graduate guard Mac Riniker had an efficient game attacking the rim, scoring 16 points before fouling out in the second half.
He was one of three players to score in double digits, with graduate guard Jarred Hyder (5-7 from three, 19 points) and senior guard Owen Koonce (7-14 from the field, 15 points).
While Hyder and Koonce usually score double digits, Cal Poly has seen a rotation of players score double digits on any given night with Riniker being the most recent.
A look at Bakersfield
The last time Cal Poly beat Bakersfield, the Roadrunners were an independent program in transition from Division-II.
Since joining the Big West, Cal Poly has failed to best the Roadrunners in 10 matchups.
The Roadrunners are led by Jemel Jones, who has scored 20 or more points in the past four contests. He has scored less than 20 points in just three Big West contests, in one of those against UC Santa Barbara, he scored eight points in just nine minutes of play.
CJ Hardy has been tasked with initiating the offense for Bakersfield but is a threat to score, hitting 47.6% of his shots from behind the arc.
The Mustangs look to continue their positive momentum as they take on CSU Bakersfield on Thursday, Jan 30, at 6:30 p.m. at Icardo Arena.
