SAN LUIS OBISPO – Hamad Mousa finished with a game high 29 points and Cayden Ward matched his career best with 28 Thursday evening as the Cal Poly men’s basketball program clinched a spot in the 2026 Big West Championship with a 102-92 victory against Long Beach State inside Mott Athletics Center.
Freshman Jess Esso Essis enjoyed a career high 15 points for Cal Poly (13-16, 9-8), which extended its winning streak to four straight after sinking 13 three-pointers, shooting 95.5 (21-for-22) percent from the free throw line and recording its highest regulation point total since a 102-89 victory at Hawai’i on Feb. 20, 2010.
Ward added a game high nine rebounds for Cal Poly, which matched a season low with just eight turnovers.
Cal Poly’s Thursday victory confirmed all eight Big West Championship programs – with three regular season matchups remaining. Long Beach State (8-21, 4-13) was eliminated from postseason contention with the loss.
Thursday’s matchup featured 10 lead changes during the opening 10-and-a-half minutes before a jumper from sophomore Guzman Vasilic handed Cal Poly a 29-27 edge. Cal Poly then produced a 15-7 run to go up by double digits with three minutes remaining in the half.