TUCSON, Ariz. – For the first 28 minutes, the Chico State men's basketball team gave folks watching its nationally-televised game against Arizona on the Pac-12 Network a good look at why the Wildcats are picked to win the California Collegiate Athletic Association for the second straight season and third in the last five.
For the last 12 minutes, Division I No. 12 Arizona proved why it is considered among the top programs in the country.
After leading Chico State by just 10 as the teams neared the midway point of the second half, Arizona finished with a 41-15 flurry to win Sunday night's exhibition game at the McKale Center 90-54.
Following a first half in which Isaiah Ellis scored eight points, Tanner Giddings seven, and Corey Silverstrom five points and three assists, Chico State trailed 37-24.
Back to back buckets by Robert Duncan – the second this scintillating slam over Gabe York – capped a quick 6-2 run to start the second half for Chico State.
The Division II Wildcats trailed just 45-37 with 14:51 to play following Giddings' jumper. Jalen McFerren made a free throw and Tyler Harris scored on a drive to start the 5-0 push.
Sophomore point guard Jalen McFerren, who made his first collegiate
start, finishd with eight points, five rebounds, two assists and didn't
commit a turnover in 25 minutes. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)A Marvin Timothy jumper made it 49-39 with 12:46 remaining.
But Arizona dominated the rest of the game. By the time McFerren hit a 3-pointer with 9:55 left, Arizona had gone on an 11-0 run to put the game away.
Still, the Pac-12 Network broadcasting team was effusive in its praise of Chico State.
"The visiting Wildcats played Arizona like a mid-major for three-quarters of the game," said JB Long.
"They could compete with a number of Division I schools," said Steve Lavin, who played his first two seasons of collegiate basketball at San Francisco State.
Arizona's leading scorer, Ryan Anderson, paid Chico State a nice compliment on the postgame show as well.
"Chico State is a great team," Anderson said. "In the first half they had 35 percent on the offensive glass against us and that's way to high. I know Coach Miller's going to harp on that in practice."
Giddings finished with nine points to lead Chico State. Duncan, McFerren, Harris and Ellis had eight apiece. McFerren, who played 25 minutes at the point without committing a turnover, chipped in a team-high five rebounds to go along with two assists in his first collegiate start. Duncan notched four steals.
Anderson led Arizona with 19 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.
Chico State will open its regular season schedule Friday at 6 p.m. against Montana State-Billings at the CCAA/GNAC Pioneer Challenge at Cal State East Bay.
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