Poly throws Big West upside down

ANAHEIM, CALIF. » What’s in a record? Not much in the Big "Wild" West.

With a 61-59 defeat of Cal State Northridge on Saturday night, seventh-seeded Cal Poly capped an improbable three-day run at the Honda Center. The Mustangs became the lowest seed to win the league tournament and earned the right to enter the NCAA Tournament for the first time in their Division I history.

With a 13-19 record, the Mustangs are widely expected to be a 16 seed on Selection Sunday.

Cal Poly coach Joe Callero welcomes it.

"I’m one of 16 children. My crazy, weird thinking is a 16 has never beat a 1 seed," Callero said, grinning widely at the postgame interview podium. "A one-of-16 child should be the one to do it."

To get that opportunity, Poly had to knock off the Big West’s two best teams during the regular season UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine on consecutive days to open the tournament. After that, anything was possible against the fifth-seeded Matadors the team that knocked Hawaii out 87-84 in overtime in Thursday’s quarterfinals.

Poly drove from San Luis Obispo to Anaheim having lost nine of 11 games and was considered a favorable draw against any opponent.

Turns out, the Mustangs were playing possum.

Displaying a confidence beyond his years and station, "Swaggy" Ridge Shipley as his Twitter handle proclaims the freshman backup point guard threw his teammates on his back in the final five minutes.

Shipley scored six straight points to bring the Mustangs from down four to up two. When CSUN recaptured the lead late, he then buried the biggest shot of the night, a straightaway 3 for a 60-59 lead with 13.7 seconds left.

"To be honest, it’s really like a blank memory right now," said Shipley, who finished with 14 points on 4-for-7 shooting. "I’ve been dreaming of that kind of moment for a while."

Senior forward Chris Eversley earned tournament MVP honors after scoring 18 points. He drove into the lane and dished out to Shipley for the game-winner.

"It felt like a Disney movie, man," Eversley said. "This is something you dream about."

CSUN center Tre-Hale Edmerson was called for an offensive foul while attempting a shot in the paint with four seconds left. That was essentially the game, as Poly made one of two free throws and the Matadors were unable to advance the ball and get a shot off in the final seconds. Forest-green-clad Poly fans stormed the Honda floor in disbelief.

"You know, it’s difficult because, the one thing I’m not going to do is criticize the referees," first-year Northridge coach Reggie Theus said. "We all know those are tough calls to make at that time in the game."

The one thing all season that could be counted on from the Mustangs was superior ball control. They entered Saturday fifth in the country in fewest turnovers at 9.1 per game, and finished the tournament with a paltry 18.

"This is surreal," Callero said.

Northridge takes women’s hoops title

Top-seeded Cal State Northridge defeated No. 2 Cal Poly 73-58 in the Big West tournament women’s championship game Saturday to give the Matadors their first NCAA tournament appearance as a Big West member.

Big West Player of the Year Ashlee Guay earned tournament MVP honors after leading her team with 25 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals in the victory.

CSUN jumped out 30-10 through 15 minutes of play and never let up against the team that knocked Hawaii out in the tournament semifinals. Junior guard Janae Sharpe contributed 17 points in the win.

"Every day is a championship day for us," CSUN coach Jason Flowers said. "The intensity never drops off. I was excited to see how they would compete on the big stage. They woke up this morning in great spirits, relaxed and they worked their tails off."

Guard Ariana Elegado scored 23 points to lead Cal Poly, the 2013 tournament champion.

No UH players were named to either the men’s or women’s all-tournament team.