Preview: Cal Poly at UC Irvine in Big West Showdown

IRVINE, Calif. (Interstat) — The UC Irvine Anteaters look to solidify their standing and avenge a recent loss when they host the Cal Poly Mustangs in a Big West Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Bren Events Center.

The Anteaters (20-10 overall) enter the matchup with the superior record and are coming off a gritty 64-60 home victory over UC Santa Barbara last Saturday. Guard Jovan Jester provided a spark off the bench in that win, scoring 13 points. His playmaking will be key; he dished out seven assists in a one-point win at Cal State Northridge on Feb. 26.

UC Irvine, however, will be motivated by its 79-73 loss at Cal Poly on Feb. 12. In that game, the Anteaters struggled to contain Mustangs guard Hamad Mousa in a defeat that snapped a four-game winning streak in the series for Irvine.

The visiting Mustangs (13-17) have been inconsistent but dangerous, particularly when Mousa gets hot. The standout guard is averaging 20.1 points per game over his last seven contests, including a 33-point outburst and a 29-point performance in a 102-92 win over Long Beach State. In the teams’ first meeting, Mousa was held to just five points, but Cal Poly still found a way to win.

Cal Poly is looking to bounce back from an 80-64 road loss at UC San Diego on Feb. 28, where Mousa scored 19 points. The Mustangs’ offense has shown high-scoring potential, cracking 100 points twice in the last month, but their defense has been vulnerable.

For UC Irvine, balance has been a strength. Alongside Jester, forwards Jurian Dixon and Andre Henry have provided consistent scoring. The Anteaters have won seven of their last ten games and will rely on their home-court advantage, where they are 12-3 this season.

The game is the regular-season finale for both teams before the Big West tournament. A win for UC Irvine would bolster its seeding, while Cal Poly aims to build momentum and finish a challenging season on a high note.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST at Bren Events Center.