5-8,1-1Big West
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Four in Double Figures, but UCLA Pulls Away from Cal Poly in Second Half
12/19/2025 9:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – Guard Cayden Ward (above, center) led four Mustangs in double-digit scoring figures with 21 points Friday evening and fellow sophomore Peter Bandelj added 17, but the Cal Poly men’s basketball program – leading UCLA at the half inside Pauley Pavilion – ultimately fell to the Bruins, 108-87.
Sophomore Hamad Mousa finished with 14 points and junior Kieran Elliott enjoyed a season best 13 for Cal Poly (5-8), which drained nine of its 14 three-pointers during the first half to lead by two at the break. The Bruins (9-3), however, scored 65 second-half points to outdistance Cal Poly.
The Mustangs finished with a 95.5 (21-for-22) percent free throw mark Friday – the third highest single-game figure in program history and the top all-time mark with at least one miss.
Sinking five of its first nine three-point attempts to open Friday’s matchup, Cal Poly jumped out to a 17-13 lead after six-and-a-half minutes. Despite keeping Cal Poly without a field goal for the next six minutes, UCLA was unable to stretch its newfound lead past five points.
Draining its nine first-half three-pointers – against just five two-point field goals – Cal Poly received conversions from Mousa and Elliott to surge back in front at the seven-minute mark, 26-24. The Mustangs led by as much as 36-30 down the stretch and traded the lead with UCLA once more before a Ward dunk handed Cal Poly a 45-43 lead at the break.
?? and-1?? from deep!
— Cal Poly Men’s Basketball (@calpolymbb) December 20, 2025
??: B1G#RideHigh pic.twitter.com/xrxsnu1xKF
The Mustangs shot 56.0 (14-for-25) percent from the floor during the first half before UCLA sank seven of its first nine attempts of the second period to open up a 60-47 lead with 15 minutes to play.
Ward snapped Cal Poly’s scoring drought with his second three-pointer of the night and another from Bandelj midway through the half cut UCLA’s lead to 74-68.
However, the Bruins – who shot 61.8 (21-for-34) percent during the second half – responded with an 11-2 run to pull away from Cal Poly.
Cal Poly Noteworthy (at UCLA)
- Up Next: Cal Poly completes the 2025 calendar year when hosting Idaho on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 4 p.m.
- UCLA, appearing in the receiving votes category of this week’s AP Top 25 poll, was Cal Poly’s second scheduled opponent this season in a national poll after USC (Nov. 3).
- Recording his fourth 20-point game of the year and second in as many outings, Cayden Ward improved his season scoring average to 15.6 points per game and now ranks eighth among Big West performers.
- A double-digit scorer in all 12 appearances, Hamad Mousa retained the Big West scoring lead at 19.6 points per game.
- Peter Bandelj took over the Big West three-point shooting lead Friday at 49.2 percent after sinking four of five attempts. He also ranks sixth with 17.1 points per game.
- Kieran Elliott’s 13-point effort Friday was one shy of his Cal Poly high.
Mustang greatness showing support tonight at Pauley!
— Cal Poly Men’s Basketball (@calpolymbb) December 20, 2025
Hi LA Clippers guard @KobeSanders3 ??#RideHigh pic.twitter.com/LAzaAHkh7j
