HAYWARD – Whether or not Oakland native Damario Sims is a fan of that area’s popular R&B group, Tower of Power, the Chico State guard personified one of the band’s most beloved songs Friday against Cal State East Bay. Sims displayed his own version of the “Oakland Stroke,” connecting on 7-of-9 from the field – including five 3-pointers – to finish with a career-high 28 points as the Wildcat men’s basketball team outgunned the host Pioneers 93-76 in Hayward.
Friday’s win – Chico State’s second straight and sixth in the last seven games – moves the Wildcats to 13-4 on the season and into a four-way tie for second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with a 7-4 conference mark. Cal State East Bay dipped to 7-7 overall and 5-5 in CCAA play. The 93 points were the most scored by a Chico State team since the 2007-08 edition of the Wildcats scored 93 against Humboldt State on Jan. 18, 2008.
The 28 points by Sims – who also led the Wildcats with six assists Friday – was the most scored by a Chico State player since Jon Baird totaled 30 against Cal State East Bay on Feb. 12, 2010. Three other Wildcats enjoyed double-digit nights: Jordan Semple knocked down three 3-pointers on the way to a career-high 19 points; Sean Park contributed a dozen to the ’Cat attack, and Jay Flores chipped in with 10 points and four assists. Jordan Barton paced Chico State on the boards, hauling in seven rebounds. The Wildcats shot a blistering 57 percent from the field (29-of-51) and hit 11-of-23 (52 percent) from 3-point range. Chico State outrebounded East Bay, 38-20.
Sims accounted for all the Chico State offense in the game’s opening minutes, draining a 3-pointer and hitting three free throws to give the Wildcats an early 6-4 advantage. The lead changed hands three times before the ’Cats exploded for a 14-2 run to go up 25-14 – Sean Park contributed six points during the stretch, with Sims, Barton, Amir Carraway and Jason Conrad chipping in with two apiece. Cal State East Bay then got hot, scoring 12 unanswered points to go back on top, 26-25. Chico State responded with some sizzling shooting of its own – 3-pointers by Semple, Flores and James Staniland fueled a 19-6 run to put the Wildcats in front, 44-32. A pair of Carraway free throws and a Semple layup at the buzzer would give the ’Cats a 48-36 halftime lead.
Sims drained three 3-pointers early in the second half as Chico State built a 64-49 lead. East Bay wasn’t about to roll over, ripping off a 13-5 run to pull to within 69-62. But the ’Cats were quick to answer – Sims and Flores bookended an 8-3 run with 3-pointers to push the ’Cats advantage back to double digits. The Pioneers whittled the deficit back down to nine, but that would be as close as East Bay would get – Semple converted a 3-point play and Josh Jackson delivered a layup as Chico State scored 10 of the game’s final 12 points to cruise to the 93-76 victory.
BOX SCORE
Chico State wraps up its brief two-game road swing Saturday against Cal State Monterey Bay. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.
