Southern California road trips have historically been hellish for the Chico State men’s basketball team. But that trend has recently begun to turn, which is something the Wildcats would love to continue when they venture to Los Angeles to take on Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills this weekend.
Since joining the California Collegiate Athletic Association at the start of the 1998-99 season, the Wildcats they’re just 25-56 against CCAA foes in on that side of the Grapevine during the regular season. They’ve been swept 15 of 32 times and only come home 2-0 on five occasions. But Chico State is 4-2 in their last six such contests, including last weekend’s split at UC San Diego and Cal State San Bernardino.
Expect both games to be decided on the defensive end. Friday’s matchup at Cal State L.A. features two of the nation’s top five teams in terms of scoring defense. Cal State L.A. has allowed only 57.0 points per game this season and Chico State just 57.2. And the last time Chico State and Cal State Dominguez Hills (the nation’s 50th-ranked scoring defense at 63.8 ppg) met, the Wildcats escaped with a 52-45 win in last season’s CCAA Championship Tournament opener in Acker Gym.
Both games will be broadcast locally on AM 1290 KPAY and streamed online via the Wildcat Webcast link at www.chicowildcats.com.
Chico State, 8-4 overall, is currently alone in fourth place in the CCAA standings at 5-3 in conference play. Cal State L.A. (7-5 overall) and Cal State Dominguez Hills (8-7) are part of a three-time logjam in fifth at 4-4 in the CCAA.
Chico State has won four of five since Christmas thanks in part to a quartet of players who have averaged in double-figures in scoring during that stretch. Rashad Parker has led the way at 14.4 points per game, followed by Amir Carraway (13.0), Jordan Semple (11.4), and Damario Sims (10.8).
But they’re facing quite a challenge in a Cal State L.A. defense that tops the nation in field-goal percentage defense, having allowing opponents to hit just over 35 percent of their shots, and features the nation’s leading shot blocker in Jordan Richard, who is turning away 4.67 shots per outing. The Golden Eagles have also been very good at home, compiling a 4-1 record in the Eagles Nest.
Cal State Dominguez Hills is 3-1 at home in the Torodome. The Toros entered the season intent on improving on the offensive end. They’ve accomplished that, raising their scoring average from 60.7 points per game last season to 64.5 this year. But their defense has faltered a tick. The Toros are allowing 63.8 points per game this season up from 60.3 in 2011-12, which ranked among the nation’s top 10.
The Wildcats are out to stop a two-game losing streak at Cal State L.A., where they’ve lost five of their last seven. They had lost six of seven at Dominguez Hills before beating the Toros there last season.
