Cuesta College forward Seth Koenig had a career-high 40 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Cougars fell to Citrus 82-80 in the Southern California Regional final Saturday in Glendora.
Koenig, a former Templeton High standout, also grabbed 10 rebounds for the Cougars (26-6).
College Roundup: Santiago, Ervin lead Mustangs to win against UC Santa Barbara
College Roundup: Cal Poly downs Cal State Fullerton for its first Big West basketball win of the season
College Roundup: Cal Poly picked for 3rd in men’s basketball race
College Roundup: Cuesta College men's basketball falls to Hancock College in tournament final
College Roundup: Cal Poly volleyball team stops its 5-match losing streak
Citrus (28-2) led by as many as 14 points in the first half but a 10-2 run after the break gave Cuesta its first lead early in the second half.
“Seth single-handedly kept us in the game,” Cuesta coach Rusty Blair said. “He was probably one of the top players in the state coming down the stretch for us.”
The teams battled back and forth down the stretch with Cuesta tying the score at 70 with four minutes remaining on a jumper by Xavier Mylleville.
Western State Conference player of the year Roger Guardia was limited to just six points on 2-of-5 shooting from the floor.
Mylleville was the only Cuesta player in double figures besides Koenig, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Citrus was led by Tom Granado’s 13 points. The Fighting Owls put five players in double figures.
Despite the close loss, Blair said he was satisfied with a team that reached the state’s round of 16 for just the third time in school history.
“When you take what’s probably one of the top two or three teams in the state down to the last possession after being picked to finish last in your league in the preseason, you’ve got to feel pretty good about it as a coach,” Blair said.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Cal Poly 83, UC Irvine 69
Kristina Santiago scored a game-high 19 points and added 10 rebounds as the Mustangs closed out the regular season with a win.
Four other Cal Poly players finished in double figures, including Rachel Clancy (18 points), Becky Tratter (16), Ashlee Stewart (10) and Brittany Lange (10).
Cal Poly shot 55.2 percent from the floor while holding UC Irvine to 32.9 percent.
By virtue of Cal Poly’s win and a UC Riverside loss, the Mustangs (18-10, 11-5 Big West) earned the second seed for the conference tournament.
The seeding, Cal Poly’s highest in school history, ensures them of a double-bye into the semifinals of the tournament.
SOFTBALL
Oregon 2, Cal Poly 0
Oregon pitcher Jessica Moore struck out a career-high 12 batters to shut out Cal Poly at the San Diego Classic.
The Mustangs (5-6) had just three hits, one each by Anna Cahn, Stephanie Correia and Dana Perez.
Helen Peña allowed two runs in the loss to the Ducks (14-5).
Cal Poly’s nightcap, a scheduled tilt with tournament host San Diego, was canceled because of inclement weather.
Cypress 9, Cuesta 1;Mt. Sac 7, Cuesta 0
The Cougars (4-11-1) struggled against two of the state’s top-five ranked teams.
Sam Hughes and Tiffany Larsen each had a double for Cuesta.
BASEBALL
Florida International 10, Cal Poly 8
Needing seven runs to force extra innings, Cal Poly’s rally came up just short as two hitters struck out with two runners on to end the game.
Elliot Stewart and Ross Brayton had three hits each for the Mustangs (4-6).
Freshman Joey Wagman allowed six runs, three earned, in four innings to take the loss.
Eugene Wright allowed one run in four innings of relief, striking out three.
The Mustangs conclude play at the Coca-Cola Classic in Arizona at 8 a.m. today against Oregon State.
TRACK AND FIELD
Stanford All-Comers Meet
Cal Poly freshman sprinter Antwaine Miller claimed the 100-meter dash in 10.88 seconds.
Derek Thomas and Blake McDowell finished first and second, respectively, in the 800 as Thomas’ crossed the line in 1:52.46. McDowell finished less than two seconds behind.
Joe Gatel claimed the 3,000, winning in a time of 8:10.37.
MEN’S TENNIS
Cal Poly’s Big West home dual with UC Santa Barbara has been rescheduled to 2 p.m. on March 31.
The Mustangs will next play at Fresno State on March 12.
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