Men's Basketball is looking for its first playoff berth since the pandemic but will need some help to vault themselves from fourth place in the Western State Conference to the post-season.  The Cougars opened conference play with horrific slump and lost their first five games against the circuit, however they have bounced back to win the next five and with two games remaining on the schedule they can still climb into 3rd place and playoff contention.  All nine of the other teams in State with current winning streaks of at least five games, have combined to lose only 10 games in conference and are near locks for the playoffs, while the Cougars sit at 5-5 against the WSC circuit.  Cuesta has plenty of big wins this season, so a pair of wins this week should keep their playoff hopes alive. 

Cuesta travels to Moorpark on Wednesday (7 PM) to face the only team in the Western State Conference they have not beaten.  The Cougars' first round loss to Moorpark, 79-67, was a low point for the Cougars, who have posted one overtime loss and five victories since their last meeting with the Raiders.  However, the Raiders have also remained hot and are also playing for a post-season berth.  They are in second play in the conference and have taken four of their past five games since they last played Cuesta.  Of course, no matter the outcome of Wednesday's game in Moorpark, the Cougars cannot overlook their final contest of the season against Los Angeles Pierce in SLO on Friday (7 PM).  The Brahmas are winless on the season are talented enough to challenge anyone and play the spoiler.  Pierce has had close losses versus two teams that own also wins against Cuesta; Santa Barbara, 77-72, and Oxnard, 62-56.