Transfer guards Fields, Joseph spark Cal Poly in first win of the season
When Cal Poly men’s basketball coach Joe Callero spoke to his team at halftime Thursday night, there weren’t many strategic adjustments made or sweeping lineup changes.
Playing their first home game of the season against Division II Cal State Dominguez Hills, the Mustangs showed some resiliency in climbing back from a 16-point first-half deficit.
Now in his eighth year at Cal Poly, Callero reminded himself to exude poise and patience toward his players, and the final result was a 75-64 victory inside Mott Athletics Center.
“I thought we were just so tight,” Callero said.
The new-look Mustangs (1-2) settled in after halftime, thanks in large part to transfer guards Donovan Fields and Victor Joseph, who combined to score 24 points during the second-half surge.
With sophomore point guard Jaylen Shead sidelined by an Achilles tendon injury, Callero started 6-foot-10 freshman forward Hank Hollingsworth for the first time this season. But after a stagnant opening half, Cal Poly used a smaller lineup in the second and showed flashes of what its strengths could be.
Callero said Shead could return when the Mustangs host Bethesda at 2 p.m. Saturday, but he’s not going to force a quick return in mid-November. That could mean larger roles for both Fields and Joseph, who played extensively in the second half Thursday in rotation with seniors Kyle Toth and Ridge Shipley.
“When Jaylen came up with the injury during practice I jumped on both of them. It’s time to step up,” Callero said. “I don’t know when your moment is going to be, but we’ve got to get the deer out of the headlights and make the transition to Division I. Thankfully, for all of us, they did that.”
Fields scored a career-high 15 points on 5 of 8 shooting, to go with three rebounds in 30 minutes. A 5-foot-10, 160-pound sophomore from New York who came to Cal Poly by way of Odessa College, Fields naturally pushes the tempo with his blink-and-you’ll-miss-it speed.
“Those are my brothers down there,” Field said, “and I’m willing to do anything that it takes to win.”
Joseph also brings a scorer’s mentality to the back court. He was a two-time all-conference performer during his time at Chaffey College, averaging more than 21 points per game as a sophomore last season. On Thursday, he scored 13 points as one of five Mustangs who reached double figures.
Junior forward Josh Martin scored 16 points, grabbed six rebounds and handed out six assists in another strong all-around performance. He said Fields and Joseph can provide “a spark at any given moment” and will be counted on moving forward.
“It was great effort coming off the bench, seeing them progress from when they first got here,” Martin said. “Very proud of the way they played, hopefully they can do it again on Saturday.”
Next up for the Mustangs is a visit from a struggling Bethesda team that competes in the National Christian College Athletic Association. The two teams have met once previously, a 78-39 Cal Poly victory back in 2013. Since moving up to Division I in 1994, the Mustangs are 35-1 against non-Division I programs, including a 10-1 mark under Callero.
This story was originally published November 18, 2016 at 11:24 AM with the headline "Transfer guards Fields, Joseph spark Cal Poly in first win of the season."