Mustangs drop another heartbreaker — this time to UCI

Jaylen Shead found some seams in the Anteater defense in the second half. By Owen Main

You can use whatever cliche you like. I’m going to mix a few. It was like groundhog day all over again.

Once again, Cal Poly was in a position to win a game against UC Irvine at Mott on Wednesday night. Once again, the Mustangs took it down to the wire. And again, Cal Poly came out on the losing end, falling 78-72 in front of just under 2,000 fans at Mott Athletics Center.

Up by two points, the Mustangs got a stop and Reese Morgan was fouled with about four seconds remaining. Morgan, one of the best all-time free throw shooters in Cal Poly history — missed the first free throw and made the second, putting Irvine down by 3 points.

A length of the court pass, a blown defensive assignment and a clutch three-pointer in the next four seconds spelled overtime. In the extra frame, UCI’s defense

Good enough?

Cal Poly has proven that they are a good enough team to play with anybody. Their losses to UCSB, UC Riverside, and now UCI at home were all close games. Road losses to CSUN, UC Davis, and Hawai’i all felt within reach late in the game. They just haven’t been able to find a way to finish.

It’s maddening for fans to watch. It’s easy to think that a different play here or a little adjustment there would have made the difference — and that is probably correct. It’s OK to be frustrated as a fan. There absolutely have been a few boneheaded plays late in games that have cost the Mustangs dearly this season.

I’ll reiterate this though — part of the fun of rooting for a mid-level mid-major basketball program is watching kids develop and grow. And change. One of the best things about watching teams is seeing players change the way they do things in front of your eyes and game to game.

This team probably won’t have a winning record this season. They didn’t two years ago either, when they had the most memorable season in the school’s history.

Awich out

Cal Poly played this one without forward Joel Awich, whose ability to jump with anyone in the conference makes him a guy you want to have available against Irvine.

Awich’s senior season has been a roller-coaster so far. Without big minutes from Brian Bennett and with Josh Martin still not eligible to play, Awich was able to flourish early in the season. He was the first Big West Player of the Week this season and seemed to be tapping into the potential that so many who watch him see. Since Martin and Bennett have been back, and because of a lingering ankle issue, Awich’s production has declined during conference play.

No rest for the weary

Cal Poly will play the top two teams in conference this week. After facing-off against one-loss UC Irvine, the Mustangs will host one-loss (as of right now) Hawai’i on Saturday night at Mott. The game will be nationally televised on ESPNU and will be the start of the second half of conference play.

Earlier in the season, Cal Poly lost in Honolulu 86-73 in a game that was closer than the final score indicated.

Photos by Owen Main