The Cal Poly Mustangs men’s basketball team dropped their lone exhibition game of the preseason, falling 105-93 to the Westmont Warriors on Friday, October 23, 2026, at Mott Athletics Center in San Luis Obispo, California.
Junior Hamad Mousa led Cal Poly with a game-high 20 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Jess Esso Essis contributed 17 points, while junior Cayden Ward added 14 points to the Mustangs’ effort.
Cal Poly trailed 34-28 with about eight-and-a-half minutes remaining in the first half before taking a brief one-point lead thanks to a Mousa three-point play and consecutive layups from newcomer Anthony Moore. However, Westmont responded by scoring on their next three possessions, taking a 57-46 lead into halftime.
In the second half, the Mustangs reduced the deficit to 68-62 with 14 minutes left, but Westmont then embarked on a 9-0 run that extended their lead to double digits, which they maintained for the remainder of the game. The Warriors shot an efficient 51.5 percent (34-for-66) and converted 14 Cal Poly turnovers into 20 points.
Cal Poly will open the 2026-27 regular season on Monday, November 2, hosting Cal State San Marcos at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
CSB Take
This exhibition loss serves as an early indicator for the Cal Poly Mustangs to address ball security and defensive consistency before the regular season begins. The solid offensive performances by Hamad Mousa and other contributors provide a promising foundation. As the Mustangs prepare for Big West Conference play, improving in these areas will be crucial to their competitiveness.
Source: Original report
