I started watching at tip-off, so I didn't see any pre-game video.

Did you notice the students at the game on Thursday who brought large pepper grinders to the game? That was really cool.

Yes, there were only 2 seconds left on the shot clock, so a lob was the most likely play to succeed.

If UCD does get the 6 seed, who would we want to play at the 3 seed? I haven't done the math, but it seems like it could be UCI, UCR, UCSB or Hawai`i. The only one of those teams we've beaten is Hawai`i, so I'd go with that.

A key play by the Gaucho's coach was that in-bounds play at the end where Norris took the lob and the pass in just made it within 5 seconds. They must have practiced that play enough to know that the Aggies would first try to defend Norris inside but he faked going out and then drove in just in time to get the ball and slam it home. That was with 25 seconds left in the game and we had to foul. Credit UCSB for not only making that play but for hitting their free throws, 4 of 4.

It was great to see Adebayo being aggressive on offense. I wish he would at least show his jump shot so teams could not ignore him on the perimeter, though. Also important to note that Lose and Beasley went 3 of 3 from 3.

That's a heartbreaking loss. The Aggies played well enough to win, but if they can play that well against the Beach, they should get the 6th seed. Good to have Beasley and Lose back. Borra and Adebayo played very well. We needed just a little but more more Ty and a little bit less of bad calls by the refs.

Ajay Mitchell has no points? UCSB has no offensive rebounds. If we had been able to make some of the bunnies we missed it would be 43-36.

Great start 16-6!

ESPN has UCSB as a consensus 2.5 point favorite.

I mentioned it in one of my posts during the game because I was counting how many he needed. I was just a little surprised that the Cal Poly guys made no mention of it, but maybe they didn't get the memo.

Yes, that's how I figure it.

See: Super Bowl LVII

Watching the Hawai`i - UCI game, it was clear that the home crowd was fired up. It was the largest crowd of the season for Hawai`i's senior night so the fans came for that and the face off against the league leaders. Irvine lead most of the game, but they began to fade after the 5 minute mark and weren't able to get closer than 3 points. The Rainbow Warriors won without their leading rebounder Bernardo da Silva. They made up for his absence by surprising the Anteaters by starting their raw big man from Senegal, Mor Sec, who had a breakout game, outplaying UCI's Leuchten. Sec got 14 points, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks. If he keeps it up, the Big West had better watch out come tournament time.

This is what I got from the ESPN webpage:
2/25
UC Irvine Anteaters
ESPN2/ESPN+
5:00 PM
HAW -2.5
Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors

Hawaii vs. UCI is on ESPN2 at 7 tonight. Hawaii could lose 2 of its last 3 and give us a shot at the 5th seed.

I suspect that the Cal Poly players expect to lose at this point in their season, so they get desperate toward the end. Borra only got 3 points, but had 5 rebounds and 2 blocks and no turnovers. Clearly his best game of the season. Good to see him step up with Anigwe hurt, but I hope Christian is healthy for the last 2 games. I used to play pick up games in the Cal Poly gym. Not sure if its the same as Mott Arena, but it was, indeed, like a high school gym. I was in the National Guard in the 70s and we'd go to summer camp in SLO.

Two Mustangs with 4 fouls including Koroma.

Pepper just broke the UC Davis single season scoring record, I believe.

I agree, aside from our own Marsh and Williams, I like this pair the best of all the Big West commentators I've heard. They are fair, knowledgable and appropriately reserved.

We're sizzling from 3: 11.1%