SAN BERNARDINO – It’s a classic tale. The bully is brutal and everyone wants the kid taking a beating to fight back. He does, landing a roundhouse that lifts the spirits of all who are watching. Oh it’s a great feeling when justice is served!
Unfortunately, the bully is down, but not out. And now he’s really angry…
Such was the story of the Chico State men’s basketball team’s 75-61 loss at Cal State San Bernardino Friday night at Cousoullis Arena. Facing far-and-away the winningest California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) team of the last decade – a team that has battered Chico State 22 times in 28 all-time meetings – the Wildcats were getting knocked around 26-14. They fought back, perhaps tiring of the torture, punching a 16-6 run into the Coyotes’ lead while trimming their deficit to 32-30.
The Wildcats were feeling good. Hope swelled in their hearts. Then the Coyotes got angry. Those good feelings were quickly dashed as Cal State San Bernardino scored 14 of the game’s next 15 points and rolled on home with the Wildcats’ lunch money once again.
There’s little doubt among those closely associated with the Chico State men’s basketball team that the Wildcats are getting stronger. Soon, Greg Clink’s crew could be the bully on the block. But they’ll have to beat the Coyotes to get there. Instead, they’ve lost all five of their meetings since Clink took the program’s helm to start the 2008-09 season, including four by 11-or-more.
Sophomore Damario Sims, who scored a game-high 18 points, would like nothing more than to lead that mission, along with freshman Sean Park, who chipped in 11, and junior point guard Jay Flores, who missed all 10 of his shots Friday. Seniors Terence Pellum (13 points on 5-of-7 shooting before fouling out in just 22 minutes of action) and Roderick Hawkins (11 points, six rebounds and three assists) will have one last chance to beat the Coyotes in the regular season. Cal State San Bernardino will come to Acker Gym Feb. 19.
But many important games stand between then and now for the Wildcats (9-4 overall and 5-4 in the CCAA), beginning with a showdown at Cal Poly Pomona Saturday night.
They need to beat the Broncos, the CCAA’s second-winningest team of the last decade, in order to get home with a weekend split and keep their conference record above .500. The defending National Champions, whom the Wildcats have actually had a bit of success against under Clink, were 52-37 winners against Cal State Stanislaus Friday night.
Cal State San Bernardino improved to 7-4 overall and 5-2 in the CCAA.
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