University of California, Riverside
Cal Poly
Cal Poly Outlasts UCR in OT, 59-55
2/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The host Cal Poly Mustangs overcame a six-point halftime deficit, then outscored the visiting UCR Highlanders 7-3 in overtime to post a 59-55 win in a Big West contest at Mott Gymnasium in San Luis Obispo Thursday.
The Mustangs improved to 8-16 overall and 6-5 in the Big West, while the Highlanders fell to 4-20 overall and 3-9 in conference.
Senior guard Steve Williams paced the Highlanders with 16 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Larry Cunningham added 10 points but was just 3-of-16 from the field. Senior forward Klaus Schille had eight points and a team-high 11 rebounds. As a team the Highlanders shot 32.3% (20-of-62) from the field and 27.3% (3-of-11) from the free throw line.
Cal Poly forward Derek Stockalper had a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Forward Tyler McGinn had 11 points for the home team. The Mustangs shot 30.8% (20-of-65) from the field and 33.3% (8-of-24) from the three point line. They outrebounded the Highlanders, 49-42.
The Highlanders' David Misko scored the first basket of overtime to take a 54-52 lead with 3:34 remaining, but the Mustangs tied it up moments later on a pair of free throws by Gabe Stephenson. Just over 30 seconds later Williams was whistled for a foul and Dawin Whiten drained a pair of freebies with 2:41 left to give the Mustangs the lead for good. UCR went without scoring on their next three trips down the floor and the Mustang's Trae Clark hit a jumper with 17 seconds left to give the Mustangs a four-point lead. Schille was fouled with seven seconds left and made one-of-two free throws, but the Mustangs got the rebound, effectively bringing the game to an end.
The Highlanders led 28-22 at halftime, and built the margin to a game-high eight on a layup by Misko at 19:19 of the second half. But Cal Poly came back and took the lead at 35-34 with 13:22 left on a layup by Chaz Thomas. UCR again expanded the lead, building the margin back to seven at 49-42 with 4:25 remaining, but the Mustangs again came right back with an 8-0 run to take a 50-49 lead. The teams were tied 52-52 with 1:26 remaining, but neither team could score in the final minute, with the Mustangs missing a pair of attempts, the final one a buzzer-beating try by Chaz Thomas, and the game went to overtime.
