Kaleb Carter hasn’t seen a lot of playing time this season for the Chico State men’s basketball team, but when he does step on the court, the talented big man always seems to cause a commotion. On Senior Night Saturday against Cal State Monterey Bay, Carter not only got to start for the first time in his Wildcats career, he was dominant in his 20 minutes of action, helping the ’Cats score an important 73-57 victory over the Otters to keep Chico State’s postseason hopes alive. Carter’s performance in his Acker Gym finale makes him the latest Wildcat of the Week.
Carter began the evening being one of four Chico State players to be honored during a special pre-game Senior Night ceremony. He then stepped on the court with fellow seniors Justin Vigil, Dylan Belquist, and Brennan Wheeler as part of the ’Cats’ starting lineup against Cal State Monterey Bay.
Carter made the most of the opportunity, scoring a career-high 10 points, hitting three of his five field goal attempts and going 4-for-6 from the free throw line. The 6’8” center was an absolute monster on the defensive end, grabbing a pair of rebounds while blocking four shots—two of which were electrifying swats that brought the Acker Gym crowd to its feet. His contributions helped the Wildcats easily dispose of the Otters and keep Chico State in contention for a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Tournament berth.
Carter and the Wildcats head to Southern California this week for the final two games of the regular season that will decide the team’s postseason fate. The ’Cats go up against CCAA regular season champion Cal State San Bernardino on Thursday night, then take on Cal Poly Pomona Saturday afternoon.
