Cal Poly’s men’s basketball team gave 1,834 home fans a thrill, and showed they can match up against the top team in the Big West Conference, but fell just short Thursday in a 98-89 overtime loss to UC Irvine.
The Mustangs (6-9, 0-3 Big West) displayed their fast-paced style of play in the second half to outscore the Anteaters (12-2, 2-0) 42-31, capped off by a 3-pointer by sharp-shooter Isaac Jessup that wedged at the back of the rim and softly dropped through the net to tie the score at 80 with 10 seconds left.
Irvine’s Myles Che, who tallied 22 points, came up just short on a mid-range jumpshot at the buzzer in regulation after a hesitation drive.
With a flair for the dramatic, Cal Poly now has extended three of its last four games to overtime, including a 95-94 victory over Denver on Dec. 17 at Mott Gym after falling behind by 23 points in that contest.
But the Anteaters — led by fiery coach Russell Turner whose voice boomed across the gym at times when shouting instructions to players or pleading his case with refs — didn’t let Cal Poly celebrate after knotting the game at the end of regulation to make up a 49-38 halftime deficit.