Cal Poly Mustangs vs Long Beach State Beach Picks Picks and Prediction for Saturday, January 3, 2026
Use Code WWWC The Cal Poly Mustangs face the Long Beach State Beach at Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California, on Saturday at 9:00 PM ET, with coverage on ESPN+. Cal Poly enters this matchup with a 6-9 overall record and 2- in Big West play after a recent overtime loss. Long Beach State holds a 4-10 overall record and is still searching for a Big West win at 0-2, but the Beach are coming off a dominant nonconference victory. Make sure to read this in-depth Cal Poly Mustangs vs Long Beach State Beach prediction. Court-side insights! Don’t miss our free NCAAB picks for Cal Poly Mustangs vs Long Beach State Beach Picks prediction today.
Cal Poly Mustangs Finding Offense Without Stops
The Cal Poly Mustangs enter this matchup averaging 82.7 points per game while allowing 85.9 points per game. In the most recent outing, Cal Poly lost 83-80 in overtime at home against Idaho State. Hamad Mousa led the Mustangs in scoring, while Peter Bandelj was the second leading scorer and playmaker. The result was the fourth loss in the last five games, with three of those losses coming by single digits or in overtime.
Offensively, the Cal Poly Mustangs have been productive. The team shoots 43% from the field and averages nearly 40 rebounds per game, which has helped generate second-look opportunities on the offensive end. Mousa leads the team, averaging 20.6 points per game while also pulling down 5.8 rebounds, making him the focal point of the offense. Bandelj adds an average of 16.2 points per game and leads the team in assists at 3.6 per contest. Cal Poly has multiple guards capable of scoring, which has kept games fast-paced and high scoring.
Defensively, Cal Poly has struggled to slow opponents. The Mustangs allow nearly 86 points per game and have given up at least 83 points in four of the last five games. The lack of rim protection shows up in its modest block numbers, and turnovers have also been an issue, with over 17 per game. Mistakes have erased many strong offensive efforts and remain the main concern entering this matchup.
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Injuries: Cal Poly does not have any players listed on its injury report.
Long Beach State Beach Looking for Conference Traction
The Long Beach State Beach come into this game scoring an average of 74.9 points per game while giving up 78.2 points per game. In the most recent game, Long Beach State cruised to a 113-66 home win over Lincoln California. Gavin Sykes led the Beach in scoring, while the frontcourt controlled the glass throughout the game. The win snapped a three-game losing streak and provided a needed confidence boost.
Offensively, the Long Beach State Beach rely heavily on Sykes, who averages 17.9 points per game on 48% shooting. Petar Majstorovic provides interior scoring and rebounding, leading the team with 6.4 rebounds per game. The Beach shoot 45% from the field and do a solid job moving the ball, averaging 13.6 assists per game. When Long Beach State plays at a controlled pace and limits mistakes, the offense can be effective, as shown in the recent blowout win.
Defensively, Long Beach State has been inconsistent. The Beach force 7.6 steals per game, but they struggle on the glass, averaging just 33.2 rebounds per contest. That lack of rebounding could be a problem against a Cal Poly team that attacks the boards aggressively. Long Beach State has allowed at least 80 points in three of the last five games, including overtime losses and close games that slipped away late.
Injuries: Long Beach does not have any players on its injury report
Cal Poly Mustangs vs Long Beach State Beach Picks Pick
Spread Pick for Cal Poly Mustangs vs Long Beach State Beach Picks
- Cal Poly Mustangs (4 Units)
Cal Poly is the side to back in this matchup. The Mustangs have the more reliable offense, averaging nearly 8 more points per game than Long Beach State. Cal Poly also holds a clear rebounding edge, which matters against a Beach team that struggles on the boards at both ends of the court. While Cal Poly’s defense remains an issue, Long Beach State has not shown the ability to consistently exploit those weaknesses against similarly talented opponents. With multiple scoring options and a proven ability to push games into 80s or above, Cal Poly will come out on top and cover the spread.
Over/Under Pick for Cal Poly Mustangs vs Long Beach State Beach Picks
- Over (5 Units)
The over is the preferred play in this game. Cal Poly games routinely reach high scores due to the combination of strong offensive output and poor defense. The Mustangs do not make enough stops, allowing nearly 86 points per game, while Long Beach State has allowed big numbers when facing teams that push tempo. Long Beach State’s recent 113-point performance shows the scoring upside is there when shots fall. With both teams featuring capable scorers and defensive issues that have persisted, this matchup sets up for another game that ends over the total.
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