by PointGuard » Wed Jun 21, 2023 12:40 am
Dec. 20: Cal Poly Mustangs (4-3) @ #9 ranked Virginia Commonwealth Rams (11-0)
Rob Benchley, Athletic Director
I tried to talk Coach Aura out of taking on such a challenging pre-conference schedule, but he was adamant about testing his players against strong teams so that if they get to the NCAA Tournament they will be ready for that level of competion. Like him, I felt we had a good chance to do very well in the Big West, but would have preferred we take on weaker pre-conference opponents to try to enter Big West play with an unblemished record and a chance of getting ranked.
So now, after taking on strong teams throughout this pre-conference schedule, the Mustangs go up against a ranked opponent for the 2nd straight game and later this week will take on tough teams in the JAG Holiday Invitational Tournament. Like Texas A&M, the Rams have been great defensively (59.0 ppg, 12th best in Division 1) and offensively (75.5 ppg, 79th best), getting steals (9.9 spg, 16th best), and on the boards (38.5 rpg, 11th best). Virginia Commonwealth has gotten into a post-season tournament each of the past 11 years and made it to the Elite 8 in the NCAA Tourney 4 seasons ago. The team’s top scorer, PG Jeramy Brown (17.3 ppg) tore his ACL and is out for the rest of the season, but freshman PF DeMarcus Gaskins is averaging 14.8 ppg and 10.2 rpg. Two other players, SG Brandon Holmes and SF Cordell Woodley, are scoring in double figures and C Duane Carey is averaging 9.8 ppg and 6.4 rpg. The team was ranked in the Top 25 before the season began and has steadily worked their way up to now be in the Top 10. The team is coming into this game fresh off winning the championship of the Caribbean Challenge Tournament.
Our team had to not only battle a talented Rams team but also rabid and vocal fans. We trailed by a small amount for most of the half and let Virginia Commonwealth pull away to a 34-27 halftime advantage.
We kept cutting the lead to a point or two only to have the Rams hit some baskets to open a 7-10 point lead. But with 7:45 remaining Nikolos Ivelitsch hit a pair of free throws that tied the game at 51-51. Then on our next possession Ivelitsch knocked down a 3 to give us a 54-51 lead. Our defense held and with 6 minutes to go Estell Luton got inside and scored to put us ahead by 5. But with their fans urging them on, the Rams came back to tie the game with 2-1/2 minutes left and then hit a 3 with 1-1/2 minutes on the clock. Danny Preston popped in a 3 to tie the game. We gained control with 29 seconds to play. Coach Aura appeared to want the team to play for last shot, but with 16 seconds to go, the ball came into Dekker Chambers in the paint and he slammed down a dunk. Virginia Commonwealth called a time out and Coach Aura put his best defenders onto the court. The Rams got the ball into the forecourt with 10 seconds remaining, worked the ball inside but couldn’t get a clear shot and whipped it outside beyond the arc with 2 seconds left. Their 3-point attempt was blocked by Calvis Barnes to protect our 64-62 lead and give us a great road victory over a previously undefeated Top 10 team. Excellent defense in the 2nd half dropped the Rams shooting down to 37% (and only 27% from 3 point distance).
PG Danny Preston scored 13 points, SF Trey Small had 10 points and 8 rebounds, SG Nikolos Ivelitsch scored 10, C Dekker Chambers had 9 points and 9 boards, and PF Estell Luton finished with 9 points and 7 rebounds.
On the negative side, Dekker Chambers took a fall that resulted in an injury to his calf which will likely limit him for a week.
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