USC scores in triple digits to upend Cal Poly

David Nwaba scored a team-high 15 points in the Cal Poly loss. By Owen Main

On Monday night, Cal Poly gave up 61% shooting in Moraga and lost to St. Mary’s 93-63. The defensive difficulties continued for the Mustangs on Thursday in Los Angeles as Joe Callero’s team took another one on the chin in a 101-82 loss in a game that was never really in doubt.

David Nwaba was Cal Poly’s leading scorer with 15 points, but he was frustrated by USC’s length and physical inside play. Nwaba was 5-14 from the field. Joel Awich, Cal Poly’s leading scorer, only played 17 minutes because of foul trouble and fouled-out with just five points.

Luke Meikle and Taylor Sutlive each scored 13 for the Mustangs.

Foulsmanship

Cal Poly was in early foul trouble in both halves. The Mustangs only ended up with three more fouls than the Trojans, but when the game might have still been in doubt, Cal Poly was on the far wrong end. Early in the second half, USC was in the bonus while Cal Poly had drawn a single foul. With 10:23 to play in the second half, USC was in the double bonus. It made for a long game that was never really in doubt, or very exciting for that matter. Everyone is still trying to figure out the aesthetics of the new rules. In the case of this game, it made it really hard to watch in many cases.

Cal Poly head coach Joe Callero said everyone is still getting used to contact rules on drives and away from the hoop. Here’s hoping things get sorted out on all ends by the end of the calendar year and before conference play starts. High final scores are fine, but the clock was stopping a lot in this one… .

Brian Bennett scored in double-figures for the second game in a row. By Owen Main

USC length

The Trojans are a long team, that’s for sure. Only one Cal Poly player had more than four rebounds, and it was point guard Jaylen Shead, who had five. Cal Poly was out-rebounded 41-31 for the game. There were many balls that USC simply jumped higher to get, but Cal Poly has struggled to rebound recently.

In the two games this past week, the Mustangs were out-rebounded by 22 total. Cal Poly may not win every rebounding battle, but if they want to have a shot against teams like USC or St. Mary’s, they’ll have to do better than they did this week.

Martin gets on the court

Freshman Josh Martin, a transfer from Minnesota, was finally cleared to play against USC. Martin played 10 minutes, went scoreless (0-3 from the field), and pulled down two rebounds.

Last week, Callero basically described exactly how Martin would play in his first game back. In the USC game, Martin played the three when Cal Poly decided to play a big lineup. Look for lots of improvement there as the Mustangs barnstorm through Texas before the new year.

Over 50 = a loss

Josh Martin finally got on the court for Cal Poly, but it will probably take him until Big West play to really get his feet under him. By Owen Main

This week, Cal Poly opponents shot well over 50 percent. From behind the arc, St. Mary’s and USC shot a combined 31-54 (57 percent). Overall, the Gaels and Trojans shot 59 percent en route to a combined 194 points. I’m not sure if Cal Poly gave up 194 points in any three-game stretch the last few years, let alone a pair of games.

Yes, St. Mary’s and USC are a combined 17-3. St. Mary’s just beat Southern Utah by 56 points. But if Cal Poly is going to change their outcomes against good teams, they’ve got to figure out a way to build some defensive momentum in a game. Offensive pace will make the Mustangs more fun to watch tonight, but defense and rebounding haven’t got any less important.

Coming into the game against USC, Cal Poly knew Katin Reinhardt was a good shooter, but that didn’t stop the Trojan guard from getting open look after open look and scoring 22 points in the first half. Reinhardt finished with 29. The last time Cal Poly played USC, I think they scored 36. Total. Times they are a changin’.

The stars at night, are big and bright

Armed with three Texas natives and one signee from the Lone Star State, Cal Poly will fly to South Texas to continue their road trip. On Sunday, they’ll visit Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Sunday (noon Pacific time tipoff). On Tuesday, they’ll visit San Antonio to play UTSA.

The team will then be free for the holidays before heading back to Texas to take on Texas A&M in College Station on December 29th.

Photos by Owen Main

Find all photos from this game at photos.fansmanship.com