Dalph Panopio and Cal State Bakersfield halted its nine-game losing skid in the 2021-22 Big West Conference, taking a thrilling 61-60 win over Cal Poly, Wednesday morning (Manila time) at Mott Athletics Center in San Luis Obispo, California.
The Roadrunners were down 60-56 with 1:35 left before going on a furious endgame rally.
A pair of free throws by Cameron Smith pulled CSUB within two, then a defensive stop led to a Kaleb Higgins jumper that tied the score with 24 seconds remaining.
With eight seconds on the clock, Bakersfield’s active hands forced another Mustang turnover. Higgins went coast-to-coast on the ensuing play, drawing a foul on the way up. He converted on one of two free throws.
Grehlon Easter then forced the Mustangs to a turnover late to seal the win.
CSUB went up to 7-15 overall and 2-10 in the tournament while dropping Cal Poly to 1-11 in the Big West, 5-19 for the season.
Higgins led the Roadrunners with 11 points while Shawn Stith and David Walker added nine points apiece. Panopio also got six points, two rebounds, and an assist in 25 minutes of play.
Trevon Taylor paced Cal Poly with 14 points.
Over at Read Fieldhouse in Kalamazoo, Michigan, AJ Edu sat out his third straight game for Toledo, who took a dominating 92-50 victory over Western Michigan in the Mid Atlantic Conference.
The Rockets remained at solo first with a 14-3 record (22-6 overall).
