Box Score Survive and advance is the mantra of “March Madness.” The Chico State men’s basketball team survived Tuesday night. Barely.

The Wildcats never trailed in an 80-78 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship Tournament victory against Cal State Dominguez Hills. But despite leading by nine with 40 seconds left, had to watch: first, Myron Green go to the line with a chance to tie the game with nine seconds left, and second, Green’s potential game-winning wide open 3 at the buzzer bounce softly off the rim.

Chico State’s fans left Acker Gym shaking their heads in disbelief and smiling from ear to ear following the team’s 10th straight home win and eighth straight win overall.

The Wildcats’ 3-point precision may have been the only thing wilder than the final 40 seconds. They shot better from beyond the arc than in any game since 2004, netting 64 percent of their attempts (14-of-22). Damario Sims made his first six on the way to a season-high 22 points. Rashad Parker was 3 out of 4. And Sean Park hit both of his tries from distance.

Amir Carraway finished with 14 points and seven rebounds and Parker and Park piled up 13 points apiece.

Chico State, now 18-9, will take on Cal State San Bernardino in the CCAA Championship Tournament semifinals at Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario Friday night at 8 p.m. The winner advances to the tournament title game where a chance to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament awaits.

Sims fashioned a spectacular show in his final appearance in Acker Gym. The fan favorite produced a 22-point, 5-rebound, 4-assist, 2-steal, 1-block stat line in his record-breaking 116th game in a Chico State uniform. He stepped around screens and rose up for 3s. He drove and dished. And he flew to the basket, his signature dreadlocks flopping behind, along with helpless defenders.

Sims also sailed past Ken Piercy and Jim Schreiner into sixth on the school’s career scoring list with 1,156 points. He flew past Homer Rivers and Brian Faulstich into seventh on Chico State’s career assists list with 258. And he stole sole possession of second place on the school’s career 3-pointers list from Kenny Gleason with 185.

Sims left an apropos lasting memory that was very nearly ripped away by an unrelenting opposition.

Sims made four 3s in the first 12 minutes, and by that time the Wildcats had made an astounding 8-of-10 to build a 31-22 lead. But the Toros cut the lead to two by halftime.

Sims, Park and Carraway canned 3s in the opening 2:14 of the second half and Chico State’s lead was back to 48-37. But the Toros were unshakable in their quest to stay within striking distance.

Parker’s 3-pointer with 5:31 left stretched Chico State’s lead to nine and could have been the back breaker. But the Toros had the lead back down to four a little more than a minute later.

Carraway’s steal and 3-pointer that stretched Chico State’s lead back to nine with 1:31 left was supposed to be the dagger. But the Toros wouldn’t quit.

Jason Conrad finally provided the capper with his breakaway dunk with 40 seconds left that made it a nine-point game once again.

Except that it wasn’t the capper at all. DeShawn Freeman drilled a 3-pointer with 33 seconds left, and following a missed free throw, Mitrell Clark made another 3 and suddenly the lead was just 78-75.

Parker provided a brief respite with a pair of free throws, but Pierson Williams’ 3 with 14 seconds remaining cut Chico State’s lead to two. Then Parker was picked in the corner following the inbounds pass and Green was fouled.

Shockingly, Cal State Dominguez Hills had a chance to tie the game with nine seconds left. Instead, Green missed both free throws before the Toros tracked down their 17th offensive board. Green had a good look from the top of the arc following the inbounds play, but the ball bounced off the rim as the red light lit and the Wildcats had advanced to the second round of the CCAA Championship Tournament by beating Dominguez Hills for the third time in four years.

2012-13 CCAA Championship Tournament

FIRST ROUND - Tuesday, March 5 (host sites)
Time         Matchup        
7 p.m.       No. 8 Sonoma State 59, at No. 1 Cal Poly Pomona 73
7 p.m.       No. 7 UC San Diego 99, at No. 2 Cal State San Bernardino 102 (3OT)
7 p.m.       No. 5 Cal State L.A. 47, at No. 4 San Francisco State 57
7:30 p.m.  No. 6 CS Dominguez Hills 78, at No. 3 Chico State 80

SEMIFINALS - Friday, March 8 (Citizens Bank Arena - Ontario)
Time         Matchup        
5:30 p.m.  Cal Poly Pomona vs. San Francisco State
8 p.m.       Cal State San Bernardino vs. Chico State

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

CCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament Central