For the fourth straight season the Chico State men’s basketball team will open California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament play against Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Wildcats and Toros will tangle Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. in Acker Gym immediately following the Chico State women’s game against San Francisco State, scheduled to start at 5:30.

Tickets are available at the University Box Office (898-6333) – located at 3rd and Chestnut Streets behind the new parking structure – Monday until 6 p.m., and then at the Acker Gym Box Office Tuesday beginning at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Ticket prices are: $10 reserved, $8 general admission, $4 seniors, $3 students (including Chico State), and kids 2 and younger are free.

The Chico State men wrapped up the regular season on a seven-game winning streak to improve to 17-9 overall and 14-8 in the CCAA and grab the No. 3 seed. Cal State Dominguez Hills (16-13 overall and 12-10 in the CCAA) is the No. 6 seed.

The winning team will advance to the CCAA Championship Tournament semifinals at Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario on Friday. The semifinal winners will meet for the tournament title and automatic NCAA Championship Tournament bid on Saturday at 8 p.m.

The Wildcats beat Cal State Dominguez Hills 52-45 for their first home playoff game since 1994 last season and advanced to the CCAA Championship Tournament final before falling to Humboldt State. Cal State Dominguez Hills beat Chico State 75-59 to open postseason play two seasons ago at the ToroDome. The Wildcats won their first postseason game in nearly 15 years in 2010, upsetting the Toros 63-60 behind the play of then-freshmen Damario Sims (21 points) and Jason Conrad.

Tuesday night’s other first-round matchups (all tipping off at 7) feature No. 8 seed Sonoma State at CCAA regular-season champion Cal Poly Pomona, No. 7 seed UC San Diego at No. 2 seed Cal State San Bernardino, and No. 5 seed Cal State L.A. at No. 4 seed San Francisco State.

Every Chico State postseason basketball game will be broadcast live on AM 1290 KPAY and streamed online at www.chicowildcats.com.


2012-13 CCAA Championship Tournament

FIRST ROUND - Tuesday, March 5 (host sites)
Time         Matchup        
7 p.m.       No. 8 Sonoma State at No. 1 Cal Poly Pomona 
7 p.m.       No. 7 UC San Diego at No. 2 Cal State San Bernardino 
7 p.m.       No. 5 Cal State L.A. at No. 4 San Francisco State
7:30 p.m.  No. 6 CS Dominguez Hills at No. 3 Chico State 

SEMIFINALS - Friday, March 8 (Citizens Bank Arena - Ontario)
Time         Matchup        
5:30 p.m.  Highest remaining seed vs. Lowest remaining seed
8 p.m.       2nd Highest remaining seed vs. 2nd Lowest remaining seed

CHAMPIONSHIP - Saturday, March 9 (Citizens Bank Arena - Ontario)
Time          Matchup        
8 p.m.        Semifinal winners

CCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament Central