Not even the top-ranked scoring defense in the nation could contain Rashad Parker Saturday night. The Chico State junior nailed eight 3-pointers on the way to a career-high 30 points at Cal Poly Pomona. Parker’s eight 3s were the most by a Wildcat since Scott Land made eight against Hawaii-Hilo in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on March 11, 2005. And his 30 points were the fourth most in Head Coach Greg Clink’s five seasons at the helm and the most since Jon Baird torched Cal State East Bay for 30 back on Feb. 12, 2010.
Parker has averaged a team-high 13.8 points per game since being inserted into the Wildcats’ starting lineup in the fifth game of the season and scored in double-figures 11 times in his 14 starts. He’s 39-for-86 (45 percent) from beyond the arc in those 14 starts, including 16 of 30 in his last four.
The Castro Valley High School product was 8-of-14 from distance Friday night. He scored 18 of Chico State’s 27 first-half points. Parker also contributed five rebounds, an assist and a steal. He scored nine points and had three assists Thursday night against Humboldt State in Arcata.
Parker leads the team in scoring at 11.6 points per game and free throw shooting at 83 percent. He also leads the team in minutes per game, shots made, and made free throws and ranks second in assists (41) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.41).
Parker hopes to continue his hot streak this weekend when the Wildcats play crucial conference games at San Francisco State Friday night at Sonoma State Saturday night.
