Isaiah Ellis made his first collegiate start Friday night. But it was the way he finished the weekend that solidified Ellis' standing as Wildcat of the Week. In Chico State's 75-70 double-overtime win against rival Sonoma State, the forward scored seven points after regulation, including the decisive three-point play with 1:26 left in the second overtime.
After making two huge free throws during an 8-0 run that drew the Wildcats even and forced overtime, Ellis keyed another comeback in the extra period. With Chico State trailing by four, Ellis hit two free throws and then scored inside on the next possession to tie the game.
In the second overtime, with Chico State clinging to a one-point lead, Ellis made the game's decisive basket. He caught a pass from Drew Kitchens on the low-left block, spun with a dribble to the middle of the lane, used a pump fake to get his defender off balance, and then muscled a short off-balance jumper through the defender's outstretched arms and in. He made the free throw, his seventh in eight tries Saturday, and the Wildcats held on to win.
He finished with 13 points, four rebounds and two steals in 24 minutes.
Friday, Ellis finished with 10 points, three rebounds, an assist, and a steal in a 63-51 win against San Francisco State.
The sophomore from Antelope is averaging 10.6 points on 55-percent shooting and 4.6 rebounds. He leads the team with 18 blocked shots, which is 6th in the CCAA.
