Change takes time. A lot of change has certainly taken place since Greg Clink took control of the Chico State men’s basketball team three summers ago. For instance, the Wildcats beat Sonoma State in Rohnert Park for the first time since 1997 last season. So it was probably asking for too much, too soon for the Wildcats to win in Arcata against Humboldt State for the first time since 1998 two nights later. In fact, they fell just short despite showing signs that they are closing in on their goal of becoming one of the top programs in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).
This Saturday, the Wildcats have another chance as they embark on a trip to Arcata (Saturday) and Sonoma State (Monday) to wrap up a stretch of five road games to start their conference schedule.
Both games, which will be broadcast locally on Newstalk 1290-KPAY with Mike Baca on the play-by-play duties, are scheduled to tipoff at 7:30 p.m. Live audio is also available at www.chicowildcats.com by clicking the "Wildcat Webcast" button.
Online streaming video and live stats will also be available for both games. To access those links, click the schedule button on the men’s basketball home page and explore the “Details” link for the particular game you’re looking for.
The Wildcats fell just short of knocking off the Lumberjacks twice last season. They led then-14th-ranked Humboldt State 49-45 with eight minutes left last season in Arcata, but Ernie Spada’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:12 left lifted the Lumberjacks to their 11th straight win against Chico State, 65-60. The 10th win in a row was even tougher to come by for Humboldt State, which needed Brandon Sperling’s late 3-pointer to send the game into overtime before escaping Acker Gym with an 84-81 win.
Humboldt State enters Saturday’s matchup ranked No. 8 in the nation at 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the CCAA. Sperling, one of five Lumberjacks averaging double-figures in scoring, leads the team at 18 points per game.
Meanwhile, Sonoma State has struggled to a 2-5 start in which they’ve dropped all three of their CCAA contests thus far. The Seawolves have lost five in a row heading into their game against Cal State Stanislaus Saturday night, but one of those losses came in overtime and the other three games were decided by five points or less.
Chico State is 6-2, but 1-2 in the CCAA. Six different Wildcats have led the team in scoring thus far, including Damario Sims, who leads the team with a scoring average of 12.3 points per game. Amir Carraway has chipped in 10.1 points per game, Sean Park is averaging 8.6, and freshman Jordan Semple 7.4.
Saturday night’s game will be especially exciting for Semple, a graduate of Arcata High School who will be playing back at home for the first time as a collegiate.
