MBB: Aggies (13-8 & 5-1) @ Cal Poly (6-15 & 1-6) The Ags came back and made a game of it late, and actually took the lead at 63-62, but Poly made the plays at crunch time and got a well deserved win. This game was practically a tie in every statistical category except one: 3 point shooting. Both teams were 25 of 55 overall but the Mustangs were 9-24 from 3 and the Ags were only 4 of 12.
To the casual fan, it was a hard fought game by both teams. To Coach Les it was a disappointing loss and I agree. Why? Because the Aggies are forming a habit of starting games slow and sluggish and getting themselves down big early. It happened at Riverside and CSUN, then at home against Irvine and now again on the road at Poly. Sure we managed to win 2 of those 4 but the trend is troubling. Sometimes the shots just are not going to fall but good energy and focus need to be there all the time no matter what.
Poly got a lot more help from their bench outscoring us 25-4. Mikey Henn was dressed but didn't play so I assume he may be under the weather or knicked up. Poly's guards, Victor Joseph and Donovan Fields, beat us off the dribble time and time again. We had no answer for their quickness and athletic drives to the basket. They combined for 34 points and made some critical 3's down the stretch. They both play with great confidence and were almost daring the Ags to try and defend them too closely. When we did, they blew by our guards and finished with athletic lay ups. They also have the ability to pull up and knock down contested 3's with only a little opening.
Chima Moneke was single-handedly keeping us within reach for much of the game and finished with yet another double-double with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Brynton Lemar came on in the second half and added 18.
The Ags need to regroup and and play UCSB with intensity from the get go on Saturday.