Thursday, December 28
San Luis Obispo, CA
7 p.m.
4-9,0-1Big West
73
vs
83
CSUN
10-3,1-0Big West
1
2
F
CSUN
46
37
83
Cal Poly
35
38
73
Team Stats
CSUN
CPO
FG%
.483
.400
3FG%
.333
.125
FT%
.714
.844
RB
42
29
TO
15
16
STL
8
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
33
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
17
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
4
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Men's Basketball
PG
/ Men's Basketball
CG
/ Men's Basketball
Photo by: Owen Main
Cal Poly Drops Big West Opener to CSUN as Sanders Enters Record Book
12/28/2023 10:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Senior guard Kobe Sanders (above) finished with a career high 33 points and set a new program record with a 17-for-17 free throw performance Thursday evening, but the Cal Poly men's basketball program dropped its 2023-24 Big West opener to CSUN inside Mott Athletics Center, 83-73.
Graduate guard Jarred Hyder added 15 points for Cal Poly (4-9, 0-1), which trailed CSUN (10-3, 1-0) by as much as 17 late in the first half before cutting its disadvantage to one with 11 minutes to play. Kept to a 35.3 (12-for-34) percent shooting mark during the second half, however, Cal Poly drew no closer down the stretch.
With his 17 free throws, Sanders eclipsed the Cal Poly single game record of 16, equaled twice by guard Lorenzo Keeler during the 2009-10 season and established by forward Gabe Stephenson in the 2005-06 campaign.
Sanders also enjoyed the top free throw shooting game by any Division I player this season (four previous players had finished 14-for-14 earlier this year). His 17 conversions are the second highest total in the nation this season.
Following a 30-point effort against Omaha (Dec. 21), Sanders is the first Cal Poly player with two 30-point games in one season since guard Donovan Fields during the 2018-19 campaign.
Junior center Joel Armotrading contributed eight points for Cal Poly and matched a career high with five blocks.
Cal Poly closes the 2023 calendar year when visiting UC Davis on Saturday, Dec. 30. Tip time on ESPN+ is 2 p.m.
The Mustangs held CSUN to a 1-for-11 start from the floor Thursday before the Matadors closed the opening half by sinking 18 of their next 26 attempts. With 30 points during the final 11 minutes, the Matadors took a 46-35 lead into the break.
Cal Poly, however, responded with a 19-9 run out of halftime, cutting CSUN's lead to 55-54 with 11 minutes to go after an Armotrading free throw.
The Mustangs, however, missed their next five attempts from the floor and, held scoreless for the next three minutes, CSUN built a 63-54 lead with eight minutes to play.
Graduate guard Jarred Hyder added 15 points for Cal Poly (4-9, 0-1), which trailed CSUN (10-3, 1-0) by as much as 17 late in the first half before cutting its disadvantage to one with 11 minutes to play. Kept to a 35.3 (12-for-34) percent shooting mark during the second half, however, Cal Poly drew no closer down the stretch.
With his 17 free throws, Sanders eclipsed the Cal Poly single game record of 16, equaled twice by guard Lorenzo Keeler during the 2009-10 season and established by forward Gabe Stephenson in the 2005-06 campaign.
Sanders also enjoyed the top free throw shooting game by any Division I player this season (four previous players had finished 14-for-14 earlier this year). His 17 conversions are the second highest total in the nation this season.
Following a 30-point effort against Omaha (Dec. 21), Sanders is the first Cal Poly player with two 30-point games in one season since guard Donovan Fields during the 2018-19 campaign.
Junior center Joel Armotrading contributed eight points for Cal Poly and matched a career high with five blocks.
Cal Poly closes the 2023 calendar year when visiting UC Davis on Saturday, Dec. 30. Tip time on ESPN+ is 2 p.m.
The Mustangs held CSUN to a 1-for-11 start from the floor Thursday before the Matadors closed the opening half by sinking 18 of their next 26 attempts. With 30 points during the final 11 minutes, the Matadors took a 46-35 lead into the break.
Cal Poly, however, responded with a 19-9 run out of halftime, cutting CSUN's lead to 55-54 with 11 minutes to go after an Armotrading free throw.
The Mustangs, however, missed their next five attempts from the floor and, held scoreless for the next three minutes, CSUN built a 63-54 lead with eight minutes to play.
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