Big West Tournament Cal Poly vs. UCR Blog

10:10

It looks like the Mustangs have pulled this one out. In doing so, they’ve won their second Big West Conference Tournament game under Joe Callero and avenged last year’s heartbreaking first-round loss to UC Riverside. 

Because UC Irvine beat Cal State Fullerton tonight (remember, the Big West Tournament is re-seeded after the first round), the Mustangs will face rival UC Santa Barbara tomorrow night. The Mustangs have failed to beat the Gauchos in each of the past two seasons, but the cliche stands here — in the postseason you can throw out the records.

Three things stand out for me in this game –

1) Jordan Lewis’ all-around game as he continues to be a part of the starting lineup. Lewis scored seven points and grabbed two rebounds while moving the ball and playing solid defense. The move to put Lewis back in the starting lineup seems to have been a very good one for Coach Callero.

2) Cal Poly shot 18-20 (90%) from the free throw line. For a team that has struggled at times from the free throw line, the Mustangs netted one of their best free-throw efforts of the season.

3) Amaurys Fermin finally had the kind of big game in a difficult situation that Callero has been waiting for all season. With 16 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds, Fermin played the kind of solid game that has eluded him at times during this conference season.

Tonight, Musty survived and advanced. Tomorrow, a renewal of the Blue-Green Rivalry is in store. It should be a good one.

* Look for pictures from this game and others from the Honda Center over the next day or so.

9:52

I keep waiting for UC Riverside’s run. And it hasn’t come yet. 55-46 Cal Poly with about 5:30 left. If Royer keeps jacking up 3’s, the Highlanders will be glad. Again, I’m not surprised that it’s been a total team effort for Cal Poly, but I am a little surprised about the fact that it’s clicking so well. Also, I’m surprised that the Mustangs are 14-16 from the charity stripe.

9:35

Was I wrong about balance? Was I mistaken when I said the Mustangs would need a starter to score more than 15 in order to win?

Cal Poly has built a 6-point lead with very balanced scoring. Three players with 8 points apiece and one with 7. The question will be who gets to take a big shot at the end and can that player knock it down? I hate that basketball so often comes down to that, but it does, especially in a one-and-done situation.

9:25

Fermin comes out with a few quick buckets in the second half. I’ve been saying all year he’s gotta get more points. He needs to be a more Lorenzo Keeler-type scorer I think for the Mustangs to have postseason success. I’ll put it this way — if he scores more than 12 or 13 points in the game, it favors the Mustangs.

9:20

Tom Barket just told me that Cal Poly is 2-12 this season when they trail at halftime. Here we go!

9:06

D D D D-Fence. Cal Poly has a track record of giving up a high shooting percentage to opponents this season and the issue seems to have reared its ugly head at the end of the first half. Riverside is shooting 51.9 percent from the field in the first half and I’m sure Coach Callero has to be focused on defensive strategery during halftime. It will be interesting to see what adjustments both teams come out with. #notomorrow…

9:04

Did I speak too soon? I thought both teams would go in at halftime within a few points, but UCR has begun to extend their lead. Six point lead for the Highlanders and Cal Poly already has 5 turnovers.

8:57

Seems like both teams are fighting in a good game here. Both squads are doing everything they can to get into halftime at this point it seems. Also, Phil Martin is a beast. The Mustangs held him down at Mott Gym a few weeks ago, but he’ll get his tonight.

8:45

Chris Eversley has come off the bench and provided instant offense all year. Mustangs fans should be excited about getting to see him play for two more seasons. He has 6 points in 6 minutes so far tonight…

8:35

We have a Maliik Love sighting! Love, who has sat at the end of the bench recently is in the game early-on — ahead of Kyle Odister. Callero has played 9 players during the first 7 1/2 minutes of the game.

8:31

When Cal Poly has started slow, it’s been really hard for them to reverse the early trend this season. Not a good start from the field for the Mustangs (2-9).

8:25

It seems as though none of the Mustangs seniors have had a huge individual performance this year in a really big game. David Hanson hit his first 3-pointer and Will Taylor scored a bucket already. Will it take a 15-plus point performance from one of the Mustangs starters if they are going to have a shot? I think maybe it will.

8:19

We have received confirmation about our photographers. Word is that the Cal Poly Cheerleaders are the winners of the “Spirit” award. Also, Will reports that the band is “pretty great.” Sounds like CP is well-represented.

Jordan Lewis will start tonight for Cal Poly. After going through just about the whole team in that 5th starting spot, Joe Callero has settled on the senior from San Rafael to stabilize the roster. Four seniors and one junior starting bodes well.

If the Mustangs win tonight, they would play UCSB tomorrow night since the tournament is re-seeded after the first round.

If you want good updates on twitter, follow @fansmanship or the Tribune’s JD Scroggin @slocollegebeat.

8:09 Pacific Time – 

Fansmanship.com supposedly will have TWO photographers working the game tonight so there should be some good photos by tomorrow or so… Friend of Fansmanship and photographer Bryce Ashland was my roommate in college and will be a featured part of an upcoming baseball road trip saga that we will post in at least four parts. The first part will likely come out next week.

Photographer Will Parris (http://www.parris-studios.com/) is a fantastic photographer in the Orange County area. He shoots sports for Fansmanship.com, but he takes pictures of all kinds of things, including my wedding. I can’t recommend him highly enough.

Thanks to both Bryce and Will for their taking pictures for fansmanship tonight.

The last time they were at a game together, Cal Poly was blown out by Fullerton. Mustang fans hope they bring a different mojo this time around…

March 8, 2012 – 6:07 Pacific Time –

Chris Eversley and Will Taylor used a game of "Musty" to warm up for the Big West Tournament. Photo by Owen Main

Tonight I’ll be blogging in an “old school” pre-twitter way that sees me updating the post here each time (Most Recent Comments on Top).

If you are a Cal Poly fan in the mean time, you can check out this game of “Musty” that Cal Poly Media Relations superstar Chris Giovanetti showed me today. It’s not a game of “horse.” On the eve of the Big West Tournament’s first round, it’s a game of “Musty.”

Will Taylor vs. Chris Eversley. Check it out