4-15,1-4Big Wes
UC Irvine
12-9,4-1Big Wes
Cal Poly Falls Down the Stretch at UC Irvine, 74-67
1/25/2020 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
IRVINE – Sophomore guard Junior Ballard (above) led the Cal Poly men's basketball program with 17 points Saturday evening, but a late second-half surge from UC Irvine lifted the Anteaters to a 74-67 victory versus the Mustangs inside the Bren Events Center.
During a matchup that featured six lead changes and eight tied scorelines, neither program led by more than four points during the second half until the final three minutes, when Big West Conference leader UC Irvine (12-9, 4-1) received a jumper from guard Jeron Artest and a three-point-play by forward Collin Welp to stretch its advantage to 70-63 with two minutes to play.
Ballard knocked down a pair of free throws on Cal Poly's ensuing possession, but the five-point deficit was as close as the Mustangs drew down the stretch.
Freshman forward Kyle Colvin added 11 points for Cal Poly (4-15, 1-4) while guards Malek Harwell and Colby Rogers each chipped in nine.
The Mustangs kept UC Irvine to a 20.0 (4-for-20) percent three-point mark while shooting 45.0 (9-for-20) percent themselves.
Cal Poly plays three of its ensuing four games at home inside Mott Athletics Center, beginning on Thursday, Jan. 30 versus Cal State Fullerton. Tip time is 7 p.m.
UC Irvine forward Brad Greene opened Saturday's matchup with layups on his side's opening two possessions as the Anteaters sprinted out to a 9-0 lead after just two-and-a-half minutes.
With Ballard scoring eight of Cal Poly's first 11 points and Colvin connecting on his first three three-point attempts, however, the Mustangs tied the scoreline at 17-17 midway through the opening half.
Facing a 22-18 deficit at the eight-minute mark, Cal Poly received a Ballard layup, two free throws from sophomore forward Tuukka Jaakkola and a bucket from junior forward Nolan Taylor as the Mustangs snagged their first lead of the night at 24-23.
The Anteaters responded with a 6-0 run, but the 29-24 deficit was Cal Poly's widest the remainder of the first half. With Cal Poly's bench scoring 27 first-half points, the Mustangs trailed at the break, 38-35.
In holding UC Irvine to just two field goals during the opening six minutes of the second half, Cal Poly built a 47-43 lead. The Anteaters, in turn, kept Cal Poly to just one field goal during an ensuing five-minute span to regain a brief 51-49 lead.
Cal Poly tied the matchup four more times, but was unable to take another lead against the Anteaters.
