Cal Poly rallies to upset UC Davis in Big West men's basketball thriller
Aggies struggle down the stretch in disappointing 84-78 loss
SAN LUIS OBISPO - UC Davis started fast, but faded in the second half as Cal Poly roared back to steal an 84-78 men’s Big West basketball win Saturday afternoon before an enthusiastic crowd of 2,483 at the Mott Athletics Center.
The loss drops UCD to 9-7 overall and 2-3 in the Big West, while Cal Poly moves to 7-11 and 3-3.
The Aggies never trailed in the opening half, taking a 36-22 lead on a 3-point bomb from Brayden Fagbemi and enjoying a 40-30 advantage at intermission.
But Cal Poly exploded for 54 points in a strong second-half performance, taking its first lead of the game at 71-69 on a basket from Hamad Mousa, who led all scorers with 24 points.
It was Mousa again who broke a 71-71 tie with a trey and the Mustangs never gave up the lead, though things remained tight down the stretch.
Three straight free throws by UCD’s Connor Sevilla cut the deficit to 79-78 with 1:23 remaining, but the Aggies would go scoreless the rest of the way as Poly sewed things up with five free throws over the final 28 seconds. The Mustangs converted 26 of 28 attempts at the foul line.
UCD was held without a field goal over the last 5:38 of the game.
Nils Cooper continued his standout play for the Aggies with 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals.
Carl Daughtery also had 18 for the Aggies while Sevilla added 11.
UCD returns home Thursday for a 6 p.m. battle with Cal State Fullerton, followed by a 2 p.m. Saturday home date with UC Irvine.
In other Big West action, UC San Diego edged UC Riverside, 69-66, Long Beach State dropped Cal State Bakersfield, 81-75, and Fullerton beat Cal State Northridge, 86-79, and Hawaii used a buzzer-beater to defeat UC Irvine 67-66.