3-5,0-0Big West
Southeast Missouri
2-4,0-0OVC
Cal Poly Closes NAU MTE with Tuesday Loss to Southeast Missouri
11/25/2025 7:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Guard Cayden Ward (above) finished with a team high 15 points Tuesday evening, but the Cal Poly men’s basketball program closed its six-game road trip and action at Northern Arizona’s MTE with an 84-68 setback to Southeast Missouri.
Fellow sophomore Hamad Mousa (right) added 14 points for Cal Poly (3-5), which led Southeast Missouri (2-4) by two points at the break before the Redhawks – defending Ohio Valley Conference regular season champions – scored 30 points during the opening nine minutes of the second half to outdistance the Mustangs. Cal Poly shot 83.8 (31-for-37) percent from the free throw line, but sank just five of 24 three-point attempts.
Sophomore guard Peter Bandelj matched a season high with a game high seven rebounds for Cal Poly.
During the first all-time matchup between the two programs, Cal Poly took Tuesday’s opening lead 66 seconds into action through a three-pointer from freshman guard Austin Goode. Cal Poly utilized layups shortly thereafter by Goode, junior Jake Davis and freshman Troy Plumtree to take a 14-8 advantage seven minutes into action.
Despite Southeast Missouri rallying to tie the matchup, Cal Poly – which shot 81.3 (13-for-16) percent from the free throw line during the first half – carved out a 21-14 lead six minutes before the break before taking a 31-29 edge into the locker room.
Final score of the night. #RideHigh pic.twitter.com/ohd6SA2GoZ
— Cal Poly Men’s Basketball (@calpolymbb) November 26, 2025
A three-pointer from SEMO guard Luke Almodovar early in the second half handed the Redhawks their first lead at 34-33. Moments later, Almodovar and guard BJ Ward sank back-to-back three-pointers to push SEMO’s lead to 49-43 with 14 minutes to play.
Keeping Cal Poly without a field goal for a seven-and-a-half minute drought, Southeast Missouri stretched its lead to 65-47 with nine minutes remaining as the Mustangs closed within 12 points just once down the stretch.
Images courtesy of Evan Lee (top) and Mallory Derrick (social)
Cal Poly Noteworthy (vs. Southeast Missouri):
- Up Next: Cal Poly returns home to Mott Athletics Center to host Division III Redlands (5-0) on Saturday, Nov. 29. Tip time on ESPN+ is 4 p.m. against the Bulldogs, who reached the 2025 NCAA Division III Tournament quarterfinals.
- Cal Poly’s six-game road trip completed Tuesday marked the program’s lengthiest road stretch in four years.
- Hamad Mousa, who reached double-digit scoring figures for the seventh time in as many Cal Poly appearances, remained Cal Poly’s leading scorer at 18.3 points per game.
- Cayden Ward finished with his sixth double-digit scoring game of the year, remaining second in the lineup with 15.4 points per game.
