SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Addition by subtraction proved a successful equation.

Playing without a suspended starting guard, the UALR Trojans used defense to overwhelm Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo 67-40 on Friday before 2, 081 at Mott Gym.

UALR was without junior guard Steven Moore, who was suspended indefinitely by UALR Coach Steve Shields for what a UALR news release called “conduct detrimental to the team.” He did not make the trip to California with the team and has not practiced since last Sunday’s exhibition game at Hot Springs.

Shields will meet with Moore on Tuesday in Little Rock to determine his future status with the team.

In his place, UALR started sophomore walk-on Matt Mouzy, who finished tied for the team lead with 15 points. Mouzy is the first walk-on to start a game for UALR since Justin Stuckey in the 2003-2004 season.

Shane Edwards had 15 points for UALR (1-0 ), while John Fowler added 11. UALR outrebounded Cal Poly (0-1 ) 43-29 and shot 53 percent to Cal Poly’s 26 percent.

With Fowler guarding, UALR shut down Cal Poly guard Lorenzo Keeler, who had 23 points and was the Mustangs’ leading scorer in their exhibition game. Keeler finished with zero points, missing all four of his shot attempts.

Edwards, Fowler and Brandon Patterson (7 points ) all were able to get to the lane with the ball early. That opened things up for Mouzy, who made 6 of 10 field goals and 3 of 6 three-pointers.

“It was a very unselfish performance from our team tonight. We had 12 guys in our locker room tonight with a common goal and a common purpose,” Shields said. “As long as you keep guys with a common goal in mind and a purpose, we’ve got a chance.”

UALR led by 14 points at halftime, and there was very little drama in the second half. Cal Poly used a 10-2 run to cut the UALR lead to 54-34, but the Trojans struck back. Mouzy scored on a fast-break layup from Edwards, and then Edwards hit a three-pointer for a 59-35 lead with 6: 42 left.

The lead reached 64-35 after a jump shot by Mouzy with 3: 55 left.

Defense ruled from the start of Friday’s game. The Trojans jumped out to a 10-4 lead and held Cal Poly scoreless for more than seven minutes. But turnovers hurt UALR as the Trojans could only build a 15-4 lead before Cal Poly ended the drought.

Cal Poly started the game making 2 of its first 16 field goals and finished the first half shooting only 24 percent. UALR took its biggest lead at 31-15 after a free throw by Fowler with 2: 07 left in the half.

UALR got off to a quick second-half start after Edwards blocked a dunk attempt by Cal Poly’s Titus Shelton.