CHICO – Terence Pellum and Roderick Hawkins have a challenge awaiting them Tuesday night when Cal State Stanislaus visits Acker Gym for a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) men’s basketball showdown. How they respond to that challenge could help determine whether the Wildcats spend the stretch run of their regular season fighting for a first-round home game in the upcoming CCAA Championship Tournament or simply fighting for one of the last remaining eight available berths.

Cal State Stanislaus dominated the paint where Pellum and Hawkins reside in the Warriors’ 66-56 win against Chico State back on Jan. 19 in Turlock. Pellum was held scoreless, missing all five of his shots, while Hawkins made just 3-of-9 and scored 10 points. Meanwhile, 6-foot-11 Cal State Stanislaus center Frank Monge scored 20 points and pulled down 15 rebounds.

Pellum and Hawkins will need to put forth better performances if the Wildcats (11-9 overall and 7-8 in the CCAA) are to get back to .500 in the CCAA standings. The recent emergence of Nick Lonnegren could help their cause. Lonnegren, a forward, has given the Wildcats a nice lift off the bench of late and is now averaging 14.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per 40 minutes of action. He’s shooting 59 percent from the floor including 50 percent from beyond the arc.

Tipoff for tonight’s game is scheduled for 7:30 PM. Hear the action live with Mike Baca calling the play-by-play on ESPN 101.7 FM and 1290 AM locally, or on the Internet on the Wildcat Athletics Website Wildcat Webcast link. Live stats will also be available on the Wildcat Athletics Website. Go to the men’s basketball team page and click on the Live stats link.

Chico State is currently in sixth place in the CCAA standings, a half game behind Cal State L.A. But Cal State Stanislaus and Cal State Monterey Bay, currently tied for ninth, are lurking just two games behind the Wildcats. Thus, a win against the Warriors would give them some important cushion to work with over the final three weekends of the season. A loss would leave them in danger of falling out of the top eight.

Hawkins and Pellum aren’t the only ones who will have revenge on their minds when these teams take the floor. That’s because Cal State Stanislaus has won eight of the last nine meetings between these teams, including the last three played in Acker Gym. Last season in Chico, the Warriors’ Michael Dyson made two free throws with two seconds left to force overtime and Cal State Stanislaus outscored the Wildcats 11-4 in the extra period to win 74-67.

Chico State continues its five-game homestand this weekend, welcoming Cal State East Bay to Acker Gym Friday and UC San Diego on Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 7:30.