The offense was simply not clicking. Then Nate Ambrosini got aggressive. The Wildcat of the Week gave the Chico State men's basketball team the lift it needed to pull away from Simpson University late for a 60–53 victory Tuesday night at Acker Gymnasium in the Wildcats' final game before a 10-day layoff.
Ambrosini set up Justin Briggs for the go-ahead basket with a drive deep into the paint and dish that broke a 49-all tie with just over four minutes remaining. He added to the lead with a drive and pull-up jumper in the paint with 3:26 to go.
With the lead back down to two on the Wildcats' next posssession, Ambrosini got to nearly the same spot on the floor, and this time flipped a pass to Isaiah Ellis on the wing for a 3-pointer that stretched the advantage to 56–51.
Two trips down the floor later, Ambrosini delivered the assist on Jalen McFerren's dagger 3-pointer that put the game away.
The junior from Fortuna finished with 10 points, three assists, and two rebounds for the Wildcats, who improved to 8-2.
Ambrosini, who ranks third on the team in assists and 3-pointers, has now hit a triple in eight sraight games. He and the Wildcats host Cal State LA Friday night at 7:30 and Cal State Dominguez Hills Sunday at 2 p.m.
