The Cal Poly men's basketball team landed in Dayton, Ohio Monday afternoon, after taking an NCAA chartered flight out of Santa Maria.
Coach Joe Callero says the team is already hard at work, and that includes players who need to take their final exams. Cal Poly wraps up its winter quarter this week.
The Cal Poly men's basketball team is scheduled to play Texas Southern University during Wednesday's First Four game at the University of Dayton Arena (3:40 p.m. PST). If the Mustangs pull that off, then the team heads to St. Louis where they'd play Wichita State on Friday.
Saturday night's 61-59 victory in Anaheim over Cal State Northridge was the first-ever Big West Conference Tournament championship win for the Mustangs. It was a last minute 3-pointer by freshman Ridge Shipley that sealed the deal.
“Doesn’t mean too much to me. As a team it got us a victory," said Shipley regarding his game-winning shot. "My teammates and coaching staff having faith is what made it for me.”
The Mustangs got to the championship game by defeating the UCSB Gauchos 69-38 on Thursday night, and UC Irvine 61-58 on Friday night. Both wins were considered upsets.
“This is surreal," said Head Coach Joe Callero following Saturday's big win. "The day was as perfect as could be.”
Cal Poly is the lowest-seeded team to ever win the championship game in the Big West Tournament's 39-year-history.