8-18, 3-9BWC
UC Davis
17-9, 8-4BWC
Cal Poly Outlasted by UC Davis in Historic Triple-Overtime Matchup
2/15/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Senior forward Luke Meikle scored a season high 21 points, senior guard Victor joseph (above) finished with 19 and junior forward Aleks Abrams recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, but the Cal Poly men's basketball team – playing the program's first triple overtime game in 35 years – ultimately fell to UC Davis inside Mott Athletics Center on Thursday evening, 92-84.
Junior guard Kuba Niziol added 15 points after sinking five three-pointers for Cal Poly (8-18, 3-9), which trailed UC Davis (17-9, 8-4) by as much as 14 points with 17 minutes remaining in regulation. However, Cal Poly – appearing in the program's first triple overtime game since edging Cal State Dominguez Hills, 56-55, on Jan. 29, 1983 – produced a 34-19 run during the next 12 minutes to grab its first lead of the night at 55-54 with six minutes to play.
The Mustangs led by as much as 61-56 with three minutes in regulation. Three-pointers on successive possessions from UC Davis guards Michael Onyebalu and Rogers Printup swung the lead back toward the Aggies before Mustang junior guard Donovan Fields knocked down a three-pointer to hand Cal Poly a 64-62 advantage with 53 seconds left.
Abrams, however, was whistled for a foul on UC Davis guard Siler Schneider with 11 seconds left in regulation and Schneider – 6-for-6 from the line Thursday – knocked down both attempts to send the matchup to overtime at 64-64.
UC Davis forced a second overtime after two free throws by guard TJ Shorts II with 59 seconds left tied the game once more at 70-70. The Aggies had a chance to snatch victory with five seconds to play in the first overtime, but Niziol blocked a Shorts jumper.
Cal Poly never led during the second overtime, but one of Meikle's three three-pointers with 36 seconds to play deadlocked the matchup once more at 75-75.
Into the third overtime, UC Davis notched the period's opening six points and led by as much as nine en route to victory.
The Mustangs, who received a career high 10 points from junior guard Trevor John, blocked a season high 11 attempts and shot 90.9 (20-for-22) percent from the free throw line.
Cal Poly continues its three-game home stand and final stretch inside Mott Athletics Center this season when hosting UC Irvine on Saturday, Feb. 17. Tip time is 7 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Alexander Bohlen
