Hawai'i
Early Spurt Powers Cal Poly Past Hawai'i, 88-59
1/24/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
POSTGAME REACTION: JOE CALLERO | DRAKE U'U | REESE MORGAN
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- After Hawai'i scored the first four points of the game, Cal Poly put together a 14-0 run in the next 3 1/2 minutes and coasted to an 88-59 victory over the Warriors in a Big West Conference men's basketball game Thursday night before 2,122 in the Mott Athletics Center.
Junior forward Chris Eversley made eight of 11 floor shots en route to 19 points and freshman forward Brian Bennett added a career-high 17 points on seven-for-nine shooting from the field as head coach Joe Callero's Mustangs snapped a three-game losing streak -- all on the road -- and improved to 8-9 for the season and 4-3 in Big West games.
Cal Poly also beat a Big West opponent at home for the eighth straight time and earned its third consecutive win over the Warriors after sinking 56.4 percent of its floor shots, the best against a Division I opponent this season.
Hawai'i (10-9, 4-4 Big West), which made only 40 percent of its floor shots and is 0-4 on the road this season, was led by junior forward Christian Standhardinger and freshman forward Isaac Fotu, each with 14 points. Freshman guard Brandon Jawato came off the bench to add 12 points.
After the 14-0 run by Cal Poly for a 14-4 lead, Hawai'i pulled to within 16-10 with 10:32 to play before the Mustangs went on a 10-2 spurt for a 26-12 advantage with 6:25 to play in the first half.
Cal Poly settled for a 38-26 lead at the break and Hawai'i never got closer than 12 points in the second half. The Mustangs opened the second half with a 15-3 run and led by as many as 34 points, 77-43, with 5:11 to play on a jumper by Eversley. Cal Poly made 63 percent of its floor shots in the second half (17-27).
Cal Poly amassed 20 assists, led by senior guard Drake U'u's (pictured above) career-high eight, while turning the ball over just nine times. Hawai'i committed 13 turnovers, with Eversley notching four steals. U'u's 14 points also are a career high and freshman guard Reese Morgan added 16 points.
Cal Poly was 11-for-25 from three-point range, recording a season high for three-pointers made in a game. Hawai'i connected on just four of 13 shots beyond the arc. Each team made 15 free throws.
Cal Poly's 38-21 advantage on the boards was paced by Bennett with nine and Eversley with eight. Fotu grabbed five boards for Hawai'i.
Cal Poly continues Big West play at home Saturday, hosting Cal State Northridge at 7 p.m. inside the Mott Athletics Center.
