SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (Interstat) — Hamad Mousa scored 23 points and Cal Poly shot a blistering 62 percent from the field in a dominant first half, cruising to a 108-76 victory over Cal State Bakersfield in a Big West Conference men’s basketball game Saturday night at a raucous Robert Mott Gym.

The Mustangs (14-18, 9-9 Big West) put the game out of reach early, building a 21-point halftime lead and never letting the Roadrunners (8-24, 5-13) mount a serious challenge in the second half. The 108 points marked a season-high for Cal Poly and the most they have scored in a conference game this season.

The most important part of the game was Cal Poly’s explosive and efficient opening period. The Mustangs came out scorching, hitting their first three-pointer just ten seconds in and never cooled off. They built a 62-41 halftime lead by connecting on 62 percent of their shots from the floor, including 7 of 13 from beyond the arc. This offensive barrage, fueled by ball movement that produced 13 first-half assists, completely overwhelmed a Bakersfield defense that entered the game having lost eight of its last nine contests.

Mousa, a 6-foot-8 forward from Doha, Qatar, was the catalyst. He scored 17 of his 23 points in the first half, showcasing a versatile inside-out game. His performance set the tone, but he was far from alone. Point guard Peter Bandelj of Ljubljana, Slovenia, orchestrated the offense with precision, dishing out eight assists to go with 10 points. Cayden Ward added 16 points, while Guzman Vasilic came off the bench to contribute 16 points, all in the first half, as part of a 62-point bench explosion for the Mustangs.

Cal State Bakersfield, which has now lost five straight games, was led by Dailin Smith’s 24 points. The junior from Colorado Springs also recorded three blocked shots. Bentley Waller added 12 points and Ronald Jessamy had 11 points and three blocks, but the Roadrunners could not match Cal Poly’s offensive firepower or sustain any momentum. They shot just 41 percent in the first half and were outrebounded 42-31 for the game.

Cal Poly’s offensive execution was nearly flawless in the opening stanza. After Vasilic’s three-pointer gave the Mustangs a 6-5 lead early, they embarked on a 17-4 run over a five-minute span to seize control. The run was punctuated by a Vasilic layup, a Ward jumper, and another Vasilic layup, pushing the lead to 23-9. Bakersfield’s Smith tried to keep his team close, hitting a trio of three-pointers in the half, but every Roadrunner push was met with an immediate Mustang response.

The lead ballooned to 30 points in the second half as Cal Poly continued its efficient play. A three-pointer from Austin Goode of Brampton, Canada, who finished with 10 points, made it 97-67 with just over seven minutes to play, allowing the Mustangs to empty their bench. Reserves like Aaron Price, who had six points and a block, and Troy Plumtree, who added nine points, maintained the intensity as Cal Poly eclipsed the century mark for the fourth time this season.

The game was a stark contrast to the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 29, which Cal Poly also won, 104-79. The Mustangs swept the season series and finished the regular season winning three of their final four games. Cal State Bakersfield, meanwhile, concludes a difficult season having lost 13 of its final 15 contests.

An announced crowd of 2,318 watched the Mustangs close their home schedule with a decisive victory, sending their seniors off with a win and building momentum ahead of the upcoming Big West Conference tournament next week.