Cal Poly upsets UC Riverside 96-83 in Big West Conference Tournament quarterfinal

By Canadian Press on March 14, 2025.

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Owen Koonce scored 20 points, and Cayden Ward added a double-double off the bench as Cal Poly breezed to a 96-83 upset victory over UC Riverside in a Big West Conference Tournament quarterfinal on Thursday night.

The seventh-seeded Mustangs (16-18) will play No. 2 seed UC Irvine in a Friday semifinal. No. 1 seed UC San Diego plays No. 5 seed UC Santa Barbara in the other semifinal.

Koonce made 5 of 10 shots with three 3-pointers and 7 of 8 free throws for Cal Poly. Ward totaled 14 points and 13 rebounds. Jarred Hyder added 18 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Freshman Peter Bandelj buried 5 of 6 from beyond the arc and scored 17. Isaac Jessup had 14 points, six boards and four assists.

Isaiah Moses scored 30 on 11-for-18 shooting with three 3-pointers for the third-seeded Highlanders (21-12). Barrington Hargress had 21 points and five assists. Kaleb Smith pitched in with 12 points and 11 rebounds before fouling out.

The Mustangs led 45-36 at halftime and finished 18 of 35 from 3-point range. UC Riverside was 9 for 32 from distance.

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The Associated Press

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