SAN LUIS OBISPO –Playing in their final exhibition game before their regular season opener this Saturday at No. 24 Cal Baptist, it was the SF State Gators falling 65-44 to the 2013-14 Big West Tournament Champion Cal Poly Mustangs in San Luis Obispo this evening. This was the Gators' third exhibition game against a Division I opponent and second straight against a Big West opponent.
 
Derrick Brown paced the Gators with 15 points while Malik Edwards chipped in 10 points for the visitors.  Freshman guard Sebastian Flores added five assists for the visitors.
 
"We received a great effort this evening from Sebastian Flores, Malik Edwards, Derrick Brown and Nick Calcaterra," said SF State head coach Paul Trevor.  "Nick gave us great energy off the bench which helped us cut the Mustang lead to 8 in the second half."

A three by Derrick Brown stopped an early 8-0 opening run by the Mustangs in the first seven minutes of the game. 
 
SF State followed that opening run by its hosts with an 8-0 run of its own to cut the deficit to 11-8 with 9:07 on the clock.  Cal Poly increased its lead to 25-13 on a free throw by Reese Morgan. 
 
The Mustangs held on to that 12-point lead (32-20) heading into the locker room at half.
 
They increased their lead to 41-23 in the first four minutes of the second half capped by a David Nwaba lay-up.
 
SF State would not cave in as the Gators went on a 17-7 run in the next five minutes to cut the deficit to 48-40.  That run was capped by three-pointers by Nick Calcaterra and Derrick Brown and a lay-up by Malik Edwards.
 
Cal Poly held the Gators scoreless in the next four minutes and increased its lead to 55-40 as the hosts never looked back.
 
A three by Brown stopped that 7-0 run by the Mustangs at the 6:16 mark of the second half as the Gators cut the deficit to 55-43. 
 
The Mustangs increased their lead to 65-43 (their largest of the game) on a Kyle Toth three with 4:46 to go in the game.  A Chiefy Ugbaja free throw was the last point by either team in the final four minutes of the game as the Mustangs took the 65-44.
 
David Nwaba and Brian Bennett each had 13 points to lead the way for Cal Poly while Joel Awich added 10 points.
 
"This was a physical grind for us tonight as we struggled to finish," added Trevor.  "The effects of being on the road for the last four days showed with us going 8-for-17 from the line."
 
SF State will open its 2014-15 regular season this Saturday, November 22 at 7pm in Riverside, Calif., as the Gators take on the No. 24 Cal Baptist Lancers.  They will have their home opener one week from tonight, when the Gators host the Academy of Art University Urban Knights at SF State's Main Gymnasium at Don Nasser Family Plaza with a scheduled tip-off of 7:00 pm PST. 
 
Box Score

Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.

Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments.  For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.