The Mustangs fall to top-seeded UC Irvine in a 73-59 loss at home to extend their losing streak to 10 games.
In a back-and-forth affair, Cal Poly gave the Big West Conference’s number one seed, the UC Irvine Anteaters, a battle before running out of gas down the final stretch.
“You know, we weren’t good enough,” head coach John Smith said. “Obviously, Irvine is the number-one team in the conference for a reason. We had a great game plan to try and slow them down on the inside, but when (Tuukka Jaakola)went out, they took advantage of that.”
The Mustangs were 2-18 against UCI in their last 20 games going into tonight, but senior guard Kobe Sanders looked to turn that around. Sanders is the first Mustang since guard Lorenzo Keeler during the 2009-10 season with three 30-point games in one year, as he had a 32-point showing at Hawai’i (Jan. 27). He ranks third among Big West players with a team-leading 18.7 points per game this season.
Coach Smith talked about Sanders’ importance to the team,
“You can’t put a number on just how valuable he is to this team. He has been amazing all season.”
The task was an uphill battle for Sanders and the rest of the Mustangs. UC Irvine has scored at least 70 points in eight of their 10 conference games. The Musangs have only scored above 70 three times in conference play.
Cal Poly started the game by getting solid looks from the perimeter. However, there was an inability to convert outside of Sanders, who was 3-5 for seven points, one being a long three to beat the shot clock in the first six minutes.
UCI’s game plan was evident early: get the ball inside. The first 11 points were from within the paint or free throws.
However, the Mustangs found their rhythm out of the first media timeout, taking the lead on a 9-0 run over 2:17 seconds. Junior Aidan Prukop started it with a jumper from the left wing, as Sanders made a layup and three from the right wing. Freshman Quentin Jones’ finger roll layup over the UCI center gave the Mustangs their first lead since the 16:45 mark.
UCI responded with their own 7-0 run after trading buckets through the middle of the half.
The Anteaters tied the game at 29 and extended their lead to 35; however, with four seconds left, Sanders grabbed a loose ball, split two defenders and hit a transition pull-up three-pointer to beat the buzzer.
He ended the half with 17 points on 6-10 shooting and 3-4 from three. Just as Cal Poly shot well from deep in the first half as a team, going 4-8.
The Anteaters entered the break with only a 35-33 lead.
Cal Poly weathered a 6-2 early run by the Anteaters with Sanders and junior Joel Armotrading jump shots, plus a junior Hayden Jory three. After only recording four offensive rebounds in the first half, the Mustangs grabbed four in the first five minutes of the second half, which led to a tight 44-41 UCI lead a couple of minutes into the half.
Turning the ball over four times in four minutes, the Mustangs allowed UCI to obtain a 51-43 lead out of the second media timeout.
Yet, as they did for most of the night, Cal Poly fought back into the game with a steal from sophomore Aaron Price Jr. and jump shots by Jones, Armotrading and Sanders to create a 53-49 game.
Coach Smith decided to rest Sanders with 5:30 left in the game down six.
“I mean, I just feel for the kid because, you know, he’s given his all, and his body’s breaking down,” Smith said. “He doesn’t have enough help right now because of injuries.”
The ensuing possessions went as follows: Anteater jumper, Mustang turnover, then an Anteater layup, extending their lead into double digits for the first time in the game, 61-51.
It was all Anteaters from there, as they did not let up, finishing up the game. The final score was UCI 73 and Cal Poly 59.
Cal Poly will play next against UC Davis at home on Saturday, February 1, inside Mott Athletics Center at 3 pm.