How fitting that the number three is smack dab in the middle of one and five. After moving into a tie for first place last weekend, the Wildcats dropped into a tie for fifth in large part because they failed to knock down the 3-point shot in a 62-59 loss to Sonoma State Friday night at Acker Gym.
It wasn’t just Damario Sims’ desperation off-balance 3 that didn’t go. In fact, the Wildcats were just 3-of-21 from distance on the night, including 1-of-11 in the second half.
Sonoma State did a nice job cutting off the foul-plagued Wildcats’ dribble penetration and closing out on Chico State’s shooters all night. The Seawolves used that combination to erase a five-point Chico State lead with 6:44 to go, holding the Wildcats without a field goal from that point on.
Chico State, now 14-5 overall and 8-5 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), lost at home for just the second time this season. Sims led the Wildcats with 18 points, five assists and five rebounds and Amir Carraway scored 10. But Carraway was one of three Wildcats to foul out on a night in which they were whistled for a season-high 25 fouls (Sonoma State was called for 16, its third lowest total of the season).
The Wildcats will try to regain some momentum Saturday night when Humboldt State visits Saturday night. The Lumberjacks, 13-4 overall, are one of four teams tied for first in the CCAA at 9-4.
Sonoma State (9-8, 7-6 CCAA) completed a season sweep of the Wildcats and evened the all-time series between the long-time rivals at 41 games apiece behind Sterling Arterberry’s nine points, eight rebounds and five assists and Jason Walter’s 10 points in just 14 minutes off the bench. Will Olsem and Steven Pratt also scored nine points apiece.
The Wildcats were coming off two of their highest scoring games of the season and red hot, having won seven of their last eight. They looked like they might stay hot, knocking down their first five shots of the game, including an Amir Carraway 3-pointer, on the way to a 14-6 lead. But they shot just 35 percent after that, including 10 percent (2-of-20) from beyond the arc.
Despite their offensive struggles and an epidemic of players in foul trouble, they still led by eight after Jason Conrad’s concussive follow dunk with 16:16 to play. They made just three shots over the next nine minutes, however, and Walter’s layup gave Sonoma State its first lead since midway through the first half, 51-50, with 7:51 remaining.
A layup by Jay Flores, jumper by Sims, and Sean Park’s steal and layup momentarily breathed life back into the Wildcats attack, giving them a 55-50 lead with 6:44 remaining. But that proved to be their last offensive gasp.
Walter scored on a drive and knocked down a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions to tie the game, and after the Wildcats missed their fifth shot in a row, Justin Herold put the Seawolves ahead for good with a one-handed rip set up by Brian Crow.
Freshman Jordan Semple, who struggled for the first time in weeks Friday night, followed with a miss and a turnover on the Wildcats’ next two possessions, and became the first of three Wildcats to foul out moments later.
Pratt knocked down both free throws to stretch the Seawolves’ lead to 59-55 with 1:59 to play. (Park fouled out on that play). Carraway made two 14 seconds later to cut the lead back to two. Arterberry answered at the line 23 seconds later, stretching the lead back to four, before Sims made a pair with 1:01 left to make it a two-point game once again.
The Wildcats got the ball back after Crow’s missed 3-pointer with 24 seconds left and Carraway tried to attack from the top of the arc, but was picked by Pratt. Herold picked up the loose ball and got fouled (Carraway’s fifth) with eight seconds remaining. He made one of two, setting the scene for the final shot.
The Wildcats needed a three to tie it and send the game into overtime. It just wasn’t a good night to need a three.
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