7-14,3-6Big West
Cal State Fullerton
10-12,5-5Big West
Mustangs Drop 93-78 Saturday Home Decision to Cal State Fullerton
1/24/2026 7:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Sophomore Cayden Ward led four Mustangs in double-digit scoring figures with 20 points Saturday evening, but the Cal Poly men’s basketball program sustained its third successive setback, falling at home to Cal State Fullerton, 93-78.
Junior Jackson Mosley recorded a career high 15 points for Cal Poly (7-14, 3-6), which sank 13 three-pointers. The Mustangs, however, trailed by 12 at the break and by double-digits for the final 14 minutes after Cal State Fullerton (10-12, 5-5) shot 57.1 percent during the second half.
Sophomore Hamad Mousa also turned in a 15-point effort alongside a game high nine rebounds for Cal Poly.
Making his Mustang debut Saturday following early-season injuries, freshman Jess Esso Essis drained four first-half three-pointers en route to 12 points.
The two programs traded five early leads before a three-pointer from Titans guard Josh Ward erased Cal Poly’s final advantage and handed Cal State Fullerton a 20-18 edge midway through the opening half. The Titans followed with a 17-7 run to go up 37-25 with four minutes remaining in the half.
Cal State Fullerton then opened the second half by knocking down seven of its initial 11 attempts from the floor to stretch the lead to 70-55 with seven-and-a-half minutes to play. The Titans also shot 86.4 (19-for-22) percent from the free throw line during the second half to keep Cal Poly at a distance.
Cal Poly Noteworthy (versus Cal State Fullerton)
- Up Next: Cal Poly plays three of its next four on the road, starting Thursday, Jan. 29 at Cal State Bakersfield. Tip time on ESPN+ is 6:30 p.m.
- Cayden Ward improved to 14.8 points per game – 10th place among Big West players – with his 16th double-digit scoring game of the season.
- With his 20th double-digit scoring effort in as many appearances, Hamad Mousa retained the Big West scoring lead at 20.7 points per game.
- Jackson Mosley not only enjoyed a new career scoring high with 15 points Saturday, but his first double-digit collegiate appearance.
Jackson Mosley hits a new career scoring high with this bucket?? LET’S GO JMO#RideHigh pic.twitter.com/yaBWlbpS7F
— Cal Poly Men’s Basketball (@calpolymbb) January 25, 2026
