SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (Interstat) — In a high-octane Big West Conference shootout where neither team led by more than 10 points, Cal Poly outlasted Long Beach State 102-92 behind a career-high 29 points from Hamad Mousa on Thursday night at Robert Mott Gymnasium.

The Mustangs, who avenged a January loss to the 49ers, improved to 13-16 overall and 8-8 in conference play. The 49ers fell to 8-21 and 4-12, dropping their fifth straight game in a season defined by narrow defeats.

The game’s pivotal sequence arrived early in the second half. Leading 51-48, Cal Poly unleashed a decisive 12-2 run to seize control. The burst was fueled by stifling defense and opportunistic transition play. After a Shaquil Bender turnover, Mousa stole the ball and ignited a fast break that culminated in a Cayden Ward dunk. On the next possession, a Peter Bandelj steal led to his own layup, forcing a Long Beach State timeout with the Mustangs ahead 60-50.

Long Beach State, which fought back from an eight-point halftime deficit to tie the game briefly early in the second period, could never fully recover from that surge. The 49ers trimmed the lead to five points on several occasions, but each time Cal Poly answered, often from the free-throw line where they were nearly perfect.

The contest was an offensive showcase with both teams shooting an identical 34 for 73 from the field. The difference came from beyond the arc and at the charity stripe. Cal Poly connected on 13 three-pointers to Long Beach State’s nine, and the Mustangs were a blistering 21 of 22 from the free-throw line, compared to a still-strong 15 of 17 for the visitors.

Mousa, a 6-foot-8 forward from Doha, Qatar, was the catalyst for Cal Poly. He efficiently scored his 29 points, adding a block and a steal in 27 minutes. His performance was complemented by a stellar outing from Ward, who finished with 28 points and five assists. Jess Esso Essis provided 15 points off the bench.

Long Beach State was led by the backcourt duo of Gavin Sykes and Shaquil Bender, who scored 28 and 18 points, respectively. Bender also dished out five assists. Forward Petar Majstorovic added 15 points and two assists.

The first half set the tone for the night, featuring 10 lead changes. Cal Poly built its largest lead of the half at eight points, but the 49ers stayed within striking distance, trailing 48-40 at the break thanks to a late flurry from Mousa, who scored five points in the final two minutes.

The second half followed a similar pattern of runs. After Cal Poly’s key burst to go up 10, Long Beach State responded with a 7-0 run of its own, capped by a Leopold Levillain layup, to close to 60-57. The Mustangs promptly answered with six straight points to re-establish a nine-point cushion and maintained at least a two-possession lead for the final 14 minutes.

Cal Poly’s offensive execution down the stretch was clinical. With the 49ers forced to foul in the final minutes, the Mustangs closed the game by making 10 consecutive free throws to seal the victory and surpass the 100-point mark for the third time this season.

The game drew an attendance of 1,692 to the intimate on-campus venue. Both teams return to action on Saturday, with Cal Poly traveling to face UC San Diego and Long Beach State heading to Cal State Bakersfield.