Mustangs' season ends with 79-69 quarterfinal loss

Posted: Mar 11, 2010 11:04 PM by Andrew Masuda
Updated: Mar 11, 2010 11:04 PM

The Cal Poly men's basketball team closed a 15 point second half deficit to two but could not get any closer. The Mustangs lost to Long Beach State 79-69 ending their season in the quarterfinals of the Big West Conference Tournament on Thursday night in Anaheim.

The 49ers charged out to a 14-2 lead in the opening minutes of the game. Cal Poly managed a small run but trailed LBSU 43-30 at half time. The 49ers scored the first bucket of the second half for its largest lead of the game, 15 points. The Mustangs led a furious comeback and a three pointer by Charles Anderson brought Cal Poly to within two, 57-55 with 10:17 to play in the game. But that was as close as the Mustangs could get.

Cal Poly shot just 36 percent in the loss. Senior Lorenzo Keeler made just 4 of 18 shots, including one for nine shooting from three-point range. He finished with 11 points and four assists in his final game as a Mustang. Jordan Lewis led Cal Poly with 14 points. Shawn Lewis added 13. Will Taylor poured in 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Cal Poly's season finished the season 12-19 under first year head coach Joe Callero.
After the game during a press conference, Callero said he was proud of the progress his team made this season. "Never did they raise an eyebrow or question a move and as a coach and a staff and as a team we felt like they had our back, we had their back and from that side it was a tremendously successful season," said Callero.

"Overall I had an unbelievable career, I really wouldn't want to be anywhere else as Cal Poly," said Keeler, moments after his final game as a Mustang. "I'm going to miss it. But I'm definitely going to keep in touch with all the guys and will definitely watch them as they move forward."

Long Beach State advanced to the semifinals. The third seeded 49ers will play second seeded Pacific at 9pm on Friday night for a spot in the championship game.

The UC Santa Barbara men will play in the first semifinal game on Friday at 6:30pm. The Gauchos will take on #4 seeded UC Davis. The top seeded Gauchos swept the regular season series with the Aggies.