Cal Poly Mustangs Upset UC Irvine Anteaters 79-73
Thursday, February 12, 2026, 10:00 PM ET · Mott Athletics Center
Cal Poly Mustangs 79, UC Irvine Anteaters 73, 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 UC Irvine Anteaters vs Cal Poly Mustangs?
Cal Poly Mustangs beat UC Irvine Anteaters 79-73 at Mott Athletics Center on February 12, 2026.
Who was favored in UC Irvine Anteaters vs Cal Poly Mustangs?
UC Irvine Anteaters were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -258 (about 72% implied). The underdog won.
In a surprising turn of events, the Cal Poly Mustangs defeated the UC Irvine Anteaters 79-73 in a thrilling matchup at the Mott Athletics Center. This victory marks a significant moment for the Mustangs, who have struggled throughout the season with a record of 10-16 prior to this game, while the Anteaters came in with a stronger 16-9 record.
The Mustangs have had a challenging recent form, entering this game with a 3-7 record over their last ten games, including a two-game losing streak. They averaged 80.3 points scored per game while allowing 86.3 points, indicating a defensive vulnerability. In their last five games, they managed to score an average of 86.0 points, suggesting a potential offensive surge despite their overall struggles. Their home record stood at 1-3 in this stretch, showcasing their difficulties in securing wins at home.
On the other hand, the Anteaters had been performing well, boasting a 7-3 record in their last ten games, although they were coming off a loss to UC Santa Barbara. They averaged 76.4 points scored and allowed 69.4 points per game during this stretch. Their away record was 4-3, demonstrating their capability to compete on the road, but they faced a tough challenge against the Mustangs.
Historically, this matchup has favored UC Irvine, as they had won all three previous meetings in the 2025 season, including a decisive 96-78 victory just last March. The Anteaters had consistently outperformed the Mustangs in those encounters, making Cal Poly's win even more noteworthy.
In terms of injuries, the block does not specify any players missing for either team, indicating that both sides were likely at full strength for this critical game.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had UC Irvine favored by 5.5 points, with a total set at 161.5. The odds reflected a strong belief in the Anteaters' ability to secure a win, but the Mustangs' performance turned those expectations on their head.
The game conditions were typical for a February evening in California, with fans filling the Mott Athletics Center, creating an electric atmosphere that the Mustangs capitalized on. The crowd support may have played a role in energizing the home team, allowing them to execute their game plan effectively.
As the game unfolded, key moments included several crucial free throws by Cayden Ward and Peter Bandelj, who helped maintain the Mustangs' lead in the closing stages. The Mustangs' ability to convert from the charity stripe proved vital in sealing their victory. The Anteaters made a strong push late in the game, with Jurian Dixon and Derin Saran hitting important three-pointers, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
Overall, the Mustangs' victory over the Anteaters not only adds a significant win to their season but also serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of college basketball, where any team can rise to the occasion and secure an upset.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UCI -5.5 | 161.5 o -108 / u -112 | UC Irvine Anteaters -258 · Cal Poly Mustangs +210 |
Leaders
- PointsGuzman Vasilic18Cal Poly Mustangs
- AssistsGuzman Vasilic4Cal Poly Mustangs
- ReboundsAustin Goode10Cal Poly Mustangs
- PointsDerin Saran19UC Irvine Anteaters
- AssistsTama Isaac6UC Irvine Anteaters
- ReboundsKyle Evans10UC Irvine Anteaters
Recent form
Cal Poly Mustangs
Last 10: 3-7Streak L280.3 scored · 86.3 allowed per game1-3 at home
- L58-67at UC Davis AggiesFeb 7
- L96-97vs Cal State Northridge MatadorsFeb 6
- W94-87at UC Riverside HighlandersFeb 1
- 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
UC Irvine Anteaters
Last 10: 7-3Streak L176.4 scored · 69.4 allowed per game4-3 away
- L79-84at UC Santa Barbara GauchosFeb 8
- W78-62vs Cal State Bakersfield RoadrunnersFeb 6
- W87-76vs Hawai'i Rainbow WarriorsJan 30
- W61-59at UC San Diego TritonsJan 25
- W80-66at UC Riverside HighlandersJan 23
- L72-75at UC Davis AggiesJan 17
- L66-67at Hawai'i Rainbow WarriorsJan 11
- W74-64vs Long Beach State BeachJan 9
- W86-64at Cal State Fullerton TitansJan 4
- W81-77at Cal State Bakersfield RoadrunnersJan 1
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 | UC Irvine Anteaters | Cal Poly Mustangs |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-70 | 26-66 |
| Field goal % | 37 | 39 |
| Three-pointers | 11-28 | 14-38 |
| Three-point % | 39 | 37 |
| Free throws | 10-14 | 13-18 |
| Free throw % | 71 | 72 |
| Rebounds | 40 | 51 |
| Offensive rebounds | 13 | 17 |
| Defensive rebounds | 27 | 34 |
| Assists | 16 | 18 |
| Steals | 14 | 10 |
| Blocks | 6 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 17 | 21 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Points off turnovers | 35 | 21 |
| Fast-break points | 16 | 23 |
| Points in the paint | 30 | 24 |
| Fouls | 18 | 14 |
| Largest lead | 15 | 11 |
| Lead changes | 10 | 10 |
| Time in front | 48 | 41 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half44-32Akiva McBirney-Griffin makes layup
- 2nd Half44-34Troy Plumtree makes layup (Guzman Vasilic assists)
- 2nd Half45-34Akiva McBirney-Griffin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half46-34Akiva McBirney-Griffin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half46-36Cayden Ward makes layup (Austin Goode assists)
- 2nd Half46-38Austin Goode makes 5-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half46-40Hamad Mousa makes layup (Troy Plumtree assists)
- 2nd Half47-40Andre Henry makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half47-41Jackson Mosley makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half47-42Jackson Mosley makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half47-43Jackson Mosley makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half47-45Cayden Ward makes 4-foot dunk
- 2nd Half47-48Guzman Vasilic makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jake Davis assists)
- 2nd Half49-48Derin Saran makes layup
- 2nd Half49-51Guzman Vasilic makes 23-foot three point jumper (Cayden Ward assists)
- 2nd Half52-51Derin Saran makes 28-foot three point jumper (Harrison Carrington assists)
- 2nd Half52-54Guzman Vasilic makes 27-foot three point jumper (Troy Plumtree assists)
- 2nd Half52-56Austin Goode makes layup
- 2nd Half52-58Guzman Vasilic makes layup
- 2nd Half54-58Andre Henry makes driving layup
- 2nd Half55-58Andre Henry makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half55-60Guzman Vasilic makes driving layup
- 2nd Half58-60Jurian Dixon makes 26-foot three point jumper (Tama Isaac assists)
- 2nd Half60-60Tama Isaac makes 7-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half60-62Austin Goode makes layup (Cayden Ward assists)
- 2nd Half62-62Kyle Evans makes 4-foot hook shot (Derin Saran assists)
- 2nd Half62-65Austin Goode makes 26-foot three point jumper (Peter Bandelj assists)
- 2nd Half62-68Peter Bandelj makes 25-foot three point jumper (Guzman Vasilic assists)
- 2nd Half65-68Jurian Dixon makes 26-foot three point jumper (Kyle Evans assists)
- 2nd Half65-71Austin Goode makes 27-foot three point jumper (Cayden Ward assists)
- 2nd Half65-74Peter Bandelj makes 28-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half66-74Andre Henry makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-75Peter Bandelj makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-76Peter Bandelj makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-76Jurian Dixon makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-77Cayden Ward makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-78Cayden Ward makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-78Derin Saran makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jovan Jester Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half73-78Jurian Dixon makes 25-foot three point jumper (Tama Isaac assists)
- 2nd Half73-79Cayden Ward makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Cal Poly Mustangs, below favours UC Irvine Anteaters.
Venue
- Mott Athletics CenterSan Luis Obispo, CA
- Attendance1823
- OfficialsJeff Malham, Deldre Carr, Ray Ames
Elsewhere
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond