At six in a row, the Chico State men's basketball program now boasts the longest stretch of consecutive NCAA Championship Tournament bids in the West Region and the fifth longest in Division II. While thrilled to be in such good company, the 2016-17 Wildcats are hoping to become more than a part of that historic run by making a historic run of their own to the Elite Eight in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and from there, to the program's first ever National Championship.
 
It will not be easy. Sixty-three other teams have their sights set on the same thing, including the Wildcats' first-round opponent, Western Washington University.
 
Chico State, the No. 6 seed in the West Region at 23-7, faces the No. 3 seeded Vikings (25-5) to tip off the 2017 NCAA Division II Championship Tournament Friday at noon at RIMAC Arena, home of the West's No. 1 seed, UC San Diego. The winner will take on either No. 2 seed Hawai'i Pacific or No. 7 seed Sonoma State Saturday at 5 p.m. for a spot in the Sweet 16 and West Region title game.
 
The Wildcats are making their sixth straight tournament appearance on the strength of a staunch defense–they rank fourth in the nation in points allowed at 63.1 per game–and their "core-four" veteran crew of senior Robert Duncan and juniors Isaiah Ellis, Jalen McFerren, and Corey Silverstrom. All four are well into their third season together in the program and all four are scoring in double-figures this season. Duncan, Ellis and McFerren are all 2016-17 First Team All-CCAA selections. It was Duncan's third such honor, and Ellis' second. Silverstrom was a Second Team All-CCAA selection. The Wildcats are 18-0 this season when at least three of them score nine or more.
 
Fellow starter Marvin Timothy and redshirt freshman Justin Briggs have teamed up to make the center position a strong one as well. Together they've blocked 77 shots, helping the Wildcats shatter the program's single-season record with a total of 134. They've also combined to average 12.3 points and 9.9 rebounds while shooting well over 50 percent.
 
Outside of Briggs, Michael Bethea, Jr. and Nate Ambrosini have been the team's key contributors off the bench.
 
The Wildcats and Western Washington are a study in contrast. One of four teams with a legitimate shot at earning the region's top seed and hosting this week, the 12^th-ranked Vikings are an offensive juggernaut. They won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles while averaging a West Region-best 88.3 points per game. They've gone over the century mark seven times. The Vikings rank among the nation's top 20 in field-goal percentage (49.5%), free-throw percentage (78.8%) and 3-point field-goal percentage (40.6%). They've made a school-record 276 3s.
 
While Chico State's "core four" each average between 12.3 and 12.7 points per game, Taylor Stafford is clearly Western Washington's biggest weapon. The GNAC Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and GNAC Tournament MVP this season, Stafford averaging 22.7 points per game and has scored 20 or more points 18 times this season, including 30 or more eight times.
 
His fellow First Team All-GNAC selection, Jeffrey Parker is no slouch. He's averaging 15.9 points per game and is WWU's all-time leading scorer with 1,851 career points.
 
Sixth-man Deandre Dickson is averaging 14 points and 6.8 rebounds in just 22 minutes per game, He and redshirt freshman forward Daulton Hommes (12.7 ppg, .484 from 3-pt range) were All-GNAC honorable mention. Logan Schilder, a sophomore 7-footer, is averaging 5.3 points on 71-percent shooting, 5.4 rebounds, and nearly two blocked shots per game.
 
Matchup History
This marks only the sixth meeting between these teams. They played in the regular season since 1993. Chico State won the first-ever meeting, 54–47, during the 1962-63 season. WWU has won 4 straight since, including their only postseason matchup, 74–65, in the 2012 Regional semifinals. That was Chico State's first of these six consecutive trips and the Wildcats actually led with just over 13 minutes to go before the Vikings took control on their way to NCAA title. 
 
Tournament History
Chico State is making its 14^th NCAA Division II Championship Tournament appearances. The Wildcats reached the Elite Eight in 2014. They reached the second round in 1958 and 2012. They've been eliminated in the first round in each of the past two seasons.
 
The Vikings boast a strong NCAA Tournament history, having won the 2012 national title and also advanced to the Final Four in 2001 and 2013. This is their eighth appearance. They've won at least one game in six of their previous seven.
 
Tickets
Tickets will go on sale at RIMAC Arena one hour prior to the start of the first game each day. All tickets are general admission.
• Adult (18-64) - $10
• Student/Senior (65+)/Youth (7-17) - $5
• Under 7 - free
 
 
How to Follow
The game will be broadcast locally on AM-1290 KPAY radio.
Important Links:
Streaming KPAY Audio
Free streaming Video
Live Stats

NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional Schedule
La Jolla, Calif. – RIMAC Arena
Friday, March 10
12:00 p.m. – #6 Chico State (23-7) vs. #3 Western Washington (25-5)
2:30 p.m. – #7 Sonoma State (20-8) vs. #2 Hawai'i Pacific (28-2)
5:00 p.m. – #5 San Francisco State (25-5) vs. #4 California Baptist (25-4)
7:30 p.m. – #8 Dixie State (19-8) vs. #1 UC San Diego (25-5)
Saturday, March 11
5:00 p.m. – Chico State/Western Washington winner vs. Sonoma State/Hawai'i Pacific winner
7:30 p.m. – San Francisco State/California Baptist winner vs. Dixie State/UC San Diego winner
Monday, March 13
7:00 p.m. – Championship Game
 
Winner advances to the…
NCAA Division II Championship Elite Eight
March 22-25 – Sioux Falls, S.D.