Box Score In need of some positive vibes, the Chico State men’s basketball team threw a block party in Acker Gym Friday night. The Wildcats tied a school record with 11 blocked shots in an 81-64 win against Cal State Monterey Bay.
Jordan Semple swatted a team-high four shots, Amir Carraway and Jason Conrad contributed three apiece, and then Jake Lovisolo secured a share of the record with his block late in the game. The only other games in Chico State history in which the Wildcats blocked 11 shots came early in the 1985-86 season, against Columbia Christian on Dec. 20 and versus Whittier College on Dec. 29.
Click here for a photo gallery of the action
It didn’t look as though Chico State’s defense would be the story of the game early on. The Otters raced to a 25-17 lead with nearly 10 minutes left to play in the first half against the nation’s fifth-stingiest defense. They were on pace to threaten the century mark. But the Wildcats clamped down hard after that.
Chico State finished the half on a 24-4 run during which the Otters missed 14-of-16 shots, four of which were blocked. Rashad Parker scored 10 points and Carraway nine during the push.
Carraway gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the first half, 41-29, with a 3-pointer in the waning seconds before intermission.
The lead remained in double figures for the rest of the night.
Parker led the team with career highs in points (18) and rebounds (7) in just 21 minutes. Semple came off the bench to tally 15 points and six boards, Sean Park finished with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting in his return from a three-game injury absence, and Damario Sims chipped in 11 points, seven assists, and four rebounds.
Chico State improved to 9-6 overall and 6-5 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association while snapping a two-game losing skid with its fifth straight win against Cal State Monterey Bay, which is coached by former Wildcats assistant Rob Bishop.
The Wildcats also moved up into a tie for fifth place with Cal State Dominguez Hills, just one game behind third-place San Francisco State and Cal State L.A.
Chico State hosts Cal State East Bay Saturday night at 7:30.
