The first half was interesting and fast-paced, and went really quickly. Coming off a win at UCLA, Cal Poly seemed to bring no momentum into the game, getting down by 14 a few times.

But the Mustangs battled back, to get within 7 at halftime. Here are some notes.

Drake U’u knocked down a few three-pointers in Moraga, but it wasn’t enough. By Owen Main

* Dylan Royer had two early fouls, allowing him to only play six first-half minutes. The Cal Poly offense looked stagnant until…

* Reese Morgan came off the bench and finally got his stroke going. Morgan went 3-3 from 3-point range, keeping Cal Poly in the game. Morgan had only made one 3-point shot all year prior to the three he knocked down in the first half.

* One of my favorite things happened in the first half. A pet peeve of mine is college coaches who stray 3-4 feet onto the playing  surface. After Chris Eversley made a 3-pointer in front of the St. Mary’s bench, he collided with Gaels’ coach Randy Bennett, who had been working the refs pretty liberally for the first 10-12 minutes of the game. Bennett spent much of the final 6 or so minutes seated after the collision.

* The gym here at St. Mary’s is REALLY hot and muggy. Also, it’s intimate and filled-up for Cal Poly.

* Cal Poly head coach Joe Callero got his first technical foul of the season after the first half had ended. Callero had some serious words with one official (who I’ve seen at Mott Gym before) and had to be restrained by his coaching staff.

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