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Henderson, Nev. -- No. 7 seed Cal Poly secured a victory over No. 3 seed UC Riverside with a final score of 96-83 at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada as part of the second round of the 2025 Big West Men's Basketball Championship, presented by Credit Union 1. The Mustangs excelled with 18 3-pointers out of 35 attempts and a total of 21 assists. UCR, despite making 29 baskets, fell short, scoring nine 3-pointers on 32 attempts. Cal Poly's bench also contributed 25 points to the win.

Cal Poly led UC Riverside 45-36 at the end of 20 minutes, mainly through strong 3-point shooting, converting nine of 21 attempts. The Mustangs also demonstrated effective ball movement with 11 assists, while forcing seven turnovers from the Highlanders. CP's defense was active, securing six steals and one block, contributing to their nine points off turnovers in the first half.

Cal Poly secured the victory over the Highalnders in the second half, with an impressive shooting performance. The Mustangs made 14 of 26 shots, including nine 3-pointers on 14 attempts, and converted 14 of 18 free throws. The team also capitalized on bench contributions, scoring 14 points, and demonstrated strong second-chance opportunities with seven points from offensive rebounds. UCR managed 47 points in the half but struggled to match CP's efficiency from beyond the arc, converting only four of 16 three-point attempts.

Cal Poly's basketball team featured several standout players based on recent performances. Jarred Hyder led with a notable 18 points, featuring 5 baskets made and 9 assists, showcasing his playmaking abilities. Owen Koonce topped the scoring chart with 20 points, aided by 5 baskets and an impressive 7 of 8 free throws. Koonce also contributed defensively with 2 blocks. Peter Bandelj added 17 points, making all his points from 5 3-pointers and demonstrating his shooting range. Cayden Ward excelled on the boards, securing a team-high 13 rebounds while also adding 14 points to his performance. Isaac Jessup matched with 5 baskets made and contributed 14 points, along with 6 rebounds, showing his versatility on the court.

Isaiah Moses led the UC Riverside basketball team with an impressive 30 points in their recent game, making 11 of 18 baskets and hitting three 3-pointers. Barrington Hargress also had a strong performance, scoring 21 points and leading the team with five assists while adding two steals. 

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