Mustangs Open Year with 80-62 Defeat of La Verne

Monday, November 6

San Luis Obispo, CA

7 p.m.

1-0,0-0Big West

La Verne

0-0,0-0SCIAC

Team	1	2	F
La Verne	33	29	62
Cal Poly	47	33	80

Postgame Highlights

Photo by: COPYRIGHT OWEN MAIN

Mustangs Open Year with 80-62 Defeat of La Verne

11/6/2023 10:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Junior center Joel Armotrading led the Cal Poly men's basketball program with 21 points, eight rebounds and five blocks in his Division I debut Monday evening as the Mustangs opened the 2023-24 regular season inside Mott Athletics Center with an 80-62 victory against Division III La Verne.

Senior guard Kobe Sanders added 16 points and six rebounds for Cal Poly (1-0), which began its 80th season as a four-year program and 30th at the Division I level by leading La Verne wire-to-wire.

Junior forward Cam Malray and sophomore guard Isaac Spears added six rebounds apiece for Cal Poly, which received scoring contributions from 12 different Mustangs.

Facing La Verne for first time since Dec. 18, 1992, Cal Poly opened Monday's scoring with a Sanders three-pointer and Armotrading three-point play to go up 10-2 after three minutes. La Verne thrice cut Cal Poly's lead to three points during the first half, but a 51.6 (16-for-31) percent field goal mark during the opening period helped the Mustangs to a 47-33 lead at the break.

Cal Poly then scored 11 of the initial 14 points out of halftime to outdistance the Leopards.

Cal Poly resumes action on Thursday, Nov. 9, opening a five-game road trip at first-time opponent Denver. The Mustangs then visit another first-time foe in Wyoming on Saturday, Nov. 11. Both games tip at 6 p.m. PT.