SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) - Sophomore Guzman Vasilic scored a career high 18 points and freshman Austin Goode enjoyed a collegiate best 17 Thursday evening as the Cal Poly men’s basketball program overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to hand previous Big West leader UC Irvine a 79-73 defeat inside Mott Athletics Center.
Sophomore Cayden Ward produced his second career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds for Cal Poly (10-16, 6-8), which utilized a 19-5 run out of halftime to overtake UC Irvine (16-9, 9-4) seven minutes into the second half.
The Mustangs trailed just twice down the stretch – by a single point each occasion – with three-pointers on four successive from possessions (Goode and sophomore Peter Bandelj alternating) establishing a 74-65 edge with two minutes to play.
Limiting UC Irvine to a 33.3 (10-for-30) percent second-half shooting mark, Cal Poly drained 14 three-pointers while outrebounding the anteaters, 51-40.
Bandelj, who sank four three-pointers alongside Vasilic, finished with 14 points for Cal Poly.
Facing just a 10-5 deficit after the initial six minutes and a 1-for-10 shooting start, Cal Poly received back-to-back three-pointers from Bandelj before Goode, sophomore Hamad Mousa and Vasilic all connected from the arc for a 20-12 advantage.
UC Irvine guard Derin Saran broke Cal Poly’s streak with a layup before freshman Troy Plumtree hit another three-pointer to place Cal Poly up 23-14 eight-and-a-half minutes before the break.
The Mustangs, however, were kept to just two field goals the remainder of the half as UC Irvine closed the period with a 28-6 run to lead heading into the locker room, 42-29.
Cal Poly Noteworthy (versus UC Irvine)
Up Next: Playing two its next three matchups at home, Cal Poly hosts rival UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 4 p.m.
With Thursday’s win, Cal Poly knocked UC Irvine out of a tie for first place in the Big West standings, handing Hawai’i (18-5, 10-3) top spot – by a half-game – over UC Santa Barbara (17-8, 10-4).
Cal Poly, meanwhile, moved one-and-a-half games clear of Long Beach State for the eighth and final spot in the March 11-14 Big West Championship.
With his first bucket of the evening nine minutes into action, Hamad Mousa surpassed 500 points for the season. The effort marks the 13th 500-point season in program history and the third in as many years after current Los Angeles Clippers guard Kobe Sanders (568, 2023-24) and former guard Owen Koonce (593, 2024-25).
Cal Poly’s 51 rebounds marked a season high.
Cal Poly rallies for upset win over UC Irvine News Channel 3-12.
Hence then, the article about cal poly rallies for upset win over uc irvine was published today ( ) and is available on News channel ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Cal Poly rallies for upset win over UC Irvine )
Also on site :
- Trump shares shock video of migrant bludgeoning Florida woman to death (GRAPHIC)
- Immune Resetting: B-Cell Mediated & Beyond Summit 2026 Oral Presentation: Innovent Biologics Announces Pre-Clinical Results of IBI3055, a Tri-specific T Cell Engager Targeting Autoimmune Diseases
- Finn Wolfhard Told ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ Creator “F*ck Yeah” To Revival Cameo: “He’s Such A Big Fan”