ANAHEIM, Calif. – Ridge Shipley came off the bench to score 15 points in a balanced attack and seventh-seeded Cal Poly used two big first-half runs to crush second-seconded Santa Barbara in opening game of the Big West tournament on Thursday.
The Mustangs (11-19) dominated the first half with runs of 13-0 and 12-0 to open a 41-20 lead and the Gauchos (21-9) never got untracked.
UCSB scored the first seven points, Cal Poly the next seven. Down 12-9, the Mustangs reeled off 13 straight points and built on a 25-17 lead with a 12-0 run. The Mustangs shot 59 percent, hitting 6 of 8 3-pointers.
Cal Poly shot just 25 percent in the second half but made 14 of 16 free throws to finish 17 for 20. The Mustangs had five turners but turned 13 UCSB turnovers into 21 points.
Michael Bryson had 19 points for the Gauchos, who shot 32 percent.
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