Box Score Chico State men’s basketball coach Greg Clink invoked the all-time great college basketball rivalries while preparing his Wildcats for their showdown with Humboldt State Saturday: Duke-Carolina, Ohio State-Michigan State, Syracuse-Georgetown, etc. Jason Conrad responded by giving his best Alonzo Mourning impression in leading the Wildcats to a 63-48 win over their long-time adversaries.

Conrad completely dominated the paint against heralded Humboldt State senior big man Alec Williams, a transfer from San Diego State averaging 18.4 points and eight rebounds per game coming in. Conrad contained Williams to 12 points on 3-of-15 shooting while finishing with season highs of 11 points (4-of-5 shooting) and nine rebounds.

By shutting down the Lumberjacks’ main offensive weapon, Conrad helped the Wildcats hold them to their lowest point total against a Chico State team since Feb. 2, 1991, and their second lowest since 1986. Saturday marked just the 11th time in the 80-year history of this rivalry the Lumberjacks have scored fewer than 50. It also marked Chico State’s fourth win in the five meetings between these teams since last season. They now lead the series, which has been renewed at least once every year since 1933, 121-72.

Chico State improved to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Humboldt State fell to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the CCAA.

Damario Sims led the Wildcats with 18 points while Conrad and Rashad Parker, making his first collegiate start, finished with 11.

But it was what the Wildcats did on the other end of the court that proved most impressive. Humboldt State entered the game averaging 73 points per game on 50-percent shooting. But the Wildcats held them without a point for a 7-minute, 45-second span during the first half while building a 26-18 edge, and held them to just 33-percent shooting for the game.

The Wildcats dominated the glass, outrebounding Humboldt State 39-26 behind Conrad’s nine and Amir Carraway’s eight. They also held the Lumberjacks without a single fast-break bucket, blocked three shots while bothering many more, and limited Lumberjack’s 3-point specialist Austin Bryan to just one make in three looks from beyond the arc.

Conrad set the tone in the second half, blocking Williams’ layup attempt that led to a transition bucket by Sean Park. He later followed up a pair of free throws with a steal and a good jumper, and then flushed a ferocious follow dunk with 11:40 to play that gave Chico State a 43-27 lead with 11:40 remaining.

The Lumberjacks cut the lead to seven with a 13-4 run before Parker sank a huge 3-pointer at the five-minute mark. Parker hit another dagger 3-pointer with 1:12 remaining giving the Wildcats an 11-point lead.

Sims sank six straight free throws in the final minute to secure the win.

Chico State will be back in conference action in Acker Gym Thursday night when Cal State Stanislaus visits. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.