Cal Poly Mustangs Defeat UC Riverside Highlanders 94-87
Saturday, January 31, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · SRC Arena
Cal Poly Mustangs 94, UC Riverside Highlanders 87, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Cal Poly Mustangs vs UC Riverside Highlanders?
Cal Poly Mustangs beat UC Riverside Highlanders 94-87 at SRC Arena on January 31, 2026.
Who was favored in Cal Poly Mustangs vs UC Riverside Highlanders?
UC Riverside Highlanders were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -120 (about 55% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling NCAAB matchup, the Cal Poly Mustangs triumphed over the UC Riverside Highlanders with a final score of 94-87 at the SRC Arena. This victory marks a significant moment for Cal Poly, as they improved their record to 10-14, while UC Riverside fell to 8-16. The game was characterized by a competitive atmosphere, with both teams showcasing their offensive capabilities.
The Highlanders entered the game with a home record of 8-15 and had recently struggled, holding a record of 2-8 over their last ten games. Their average scoring during this stretch was 67.7 points per game, while they allowed an average of 78.8 points. UC Riverside's recent form included a win against Long Beach State Beach on January 30, where they secured a 71-61 victory, but they had suffered losses in several previous contests, including a close 66-69 defeat to UC San Diego Tritons on January 11.
Conversely, the Mustangs had a slightly better recent record of 3-7 over their last ten games, averaging 78.9 points scored and 86.8 points allowed. Their last game saw them dominate the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners with a resounding 104-79 win on January 30. Despite their overall away record of 9-14, Cal Poly's recent performance suggested they were finding their rhythm at a crucial juncture in the season.
The head-to-head record between these two teams stood at 2-2, indicating a balanced rivalry. In their most recent meeting earlier in the season on December 7, 2025, Cal Poly had edged out UC Riverside with an 88-84 victory. The previous encounters in the 2025 season saw mixed results, with each team claiming victories on their home courts.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details on player availability, but the performance of key players would have been critical in such a closely contested game. The market had priced the game with UC Riverside as slight favorites at -1.5 according to DraftKings, with a total set at 162.5. This indicated expectations for a high-scoring affair, which ultimately played out as both teams exceeded their average scoring capabilities.
The conditions at the SRC Arena were conducive to an exciting game, with a packed crowd likely contributing to the electric atmosphere. As the game progressed, viewers witnessed crucial scoring plays that shifted momentum. Notably, Peter Bandelj's free throws in the closing moments solidified Cal Poly's lead, as he converted multiple attempts to push the score to 94-87.
Overall, this matchup showcased the competitive spirit of both teams, with Cal Poly's recent form giving them the edge they needed to secure the win. The Highlanders will need to regroup as they continue their season, while the Mustangs will look to build on this momentum.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UCR -1.5 | 162.5 o -110 / u -110 | Cal Poly Mustangs +100 · UC Riverside Highlanders -120 |
Leaders
- PointsAndrew Henderson39UC Riverside Highlanders
- AssistsMarqui Worthy Jr.4UC Riverside Highlanders
- ReboundsMarqui Worthy Jr.7UC Riverside Highlanders
- PointsHamad Mousa26Cal Poly Mustangs
- AssistsPeter Bandelj6Cal Poly Mustangs
- ReboundsHamad Mousa6Cal Poly Mustangs
Recent form
UC Riverside Highlanders
Last 10: 2-8Streak W167.7 scored · 78.8 allowed per game2-3 at home
- W71-61vs Long Beach State BeachJan 30
- L66-74at UC Davis AggiesJan 24
- L66-80vs UC Irvine AnteatersJan 23
- W81-72vs Cal State Fullerton TitansJan 18
- L73-88at Long Beach State BeachJan 16
- L66-69vs UC San Diego TritonsJan 11
- L66-67at Cal State Bakersfield RoadrunnersJan 9
- L45-88vs Hawai'i Rainbow WarriorsJan 2
- L65-97at UCLA BruinsDec 23
- L78-92at St. Thomas TommiesDec 21
Cal Poly Mustangs
Last 10: 3-7Streak W178.9 scored · 86.8 allowed per game1-4 away
- W104-79at Cal State Bakersfield RoadrunnersJan 30
- L78-93vs Cal State Fullerton TitansJan 25
- L67-107at UC Santa Barbara GauchosJan 23
- L66-86vs Hawai'i Rainbow WarriorsJan 16
- W84-78vs UC Davis AggiesJan 10
- L90-95at Cal State Northridge MatadorsJan 9
- L66-74at Long Beach State BeachJan 4
- W67-65vs UC San Diego TritonsJan 2
- L80-83vs Idaho VandalsDec 22
- L87-108at UCLA BruinsDec 20
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Irvine | 23-12 | - | 15-5 |
| Hawai'i | 24-9 | 1 | 14-6 |
| UC San Diego | 23-11 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Cal State Northridge | 20-14 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Cal State Fullerton | 18-16 | 3 | 12-8 |
| UC Davis | 19-14 | 4 | 11-9 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 18-14 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Cal Poly | 14-19 | 5 | 10-10 |
| Long Beach State | 10-22 | 9 | 6-14 |
| UC Riverside | 10-22 | 10 | 5-15 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | 8-24 | 13 | 2-18 |
Box score
| Stat | Cal Poly Mustangs | UC Riverside Highlanders |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 34-64 | 31-66 |
| Field goal % | 53 | 47 |
| Three-pointers | 9-26 | 8-20 |
| Three-point % | 35 | 40 |
| Free throws | 17-21 | 17-26 |
| Free throw % | 81 | 65 |
| Rebounds | 30 | 41 |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 | 21 |
| Defensive rebounds | 18 | 20 |
| Assists | 16 | 12 |
| Steals | 9 | 2 |
| Blocks | 0 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 18 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 24 | 13 |
| Fast-break points | 2 | 8 |
| Points in the paint | 48 | 34 |
| Fouls | 22 | 20 |
| Largest lead | 9 | 6 |
| Lead changes | 11 | 11 |
| Time in front | 67 | 23 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half63-56Hamad Mousa makes layup
- 2nd Half63-58Andrew Henderson makes 17-foot jumper
- 2nd Half63-59Marqui Worthy Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-60Marqui Worthy Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-60Austin Goode makes 4-foot dunk (Hamad Mousa assists)
- 2nd Half65-62Andrew Henderson makes 17-foot jumper
- 2nd Half67-62Troy Plumtree makes layup (Austin Goode assists)
- 2nd Half67-64Marqui Worthy Jr. makes 11-foot jumper
- 2nd Half68-64Hamad Mousa makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-65Osiris Grady makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-65Hamad Mousa makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half70-67Osiris Grady makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half71-67Peter Bandelj makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-67Peter Bandelj makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-67Jess Esso Essis makes 15-foot jumper (Hamad Mousa assists)
- 2nd Half74-69Andrew Henderson makes layup (Ben Waller assists)
- 2nd Half74-70Andrew Henderson makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half77-70Jess Esso Essis makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half79-70Hamad Mousa makes layup
- 2nd Half79-72Andrew Henderson makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half81-72Peter Bandelj makes layup
- 2nd Half81-74Andrew Henderson makes layup
- 2nd Half83-74Peter Bandelj makes layup
- 2nd Half83-76Marqui Worthy Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half83-77Jailen Daniel-Dalton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half85-77Austin Goode makes layup
- 2nd Half85-78Marqui Worthy Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half86-78Hamad Mousa makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half87-78Hamad Mousa makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half87-79Marqui Worthy Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half87-82Tyler Jones makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half87-83Jailen Daniel-Dalton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half87-84Jailen Daniel-Dalton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half89-84Hamad Mousa makes layup
- 2nd Half90-84Jake Davis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half90-87Andrew Henderson makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half91-87Peter Bandelj makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half92-87Peter Bandelj makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half93-87Peter Bandelj makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half94-87Peter Bandelj makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours UC Riverside Highlanders, below favours Cal Poly Mustangs.
Venue
- SRC ArenaRiverside, CA
- Attendance276
- OfficialsShawn Lehigh, Joe Malhan, Wacey Lym
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