Box Score "Beat Sonoma State!" has always been a rallying cry for the Chico State men's basketball program. Seniors Rashad Parker, Amir Carraway and Sean Park were pretty dang good at it. With Friday night's 76-68 win against the Seawolves in Acker Gym, the trio has
helped lead the Wildcats to five straight wins against their rivals from just over the California Coastal Range and, barring a postseason matchup, will graduate having won seven of nine against the Seawolves.
Jordan Semple scored a game-high 25 points (one shy of his career high) on a very efficient shooting night. The junior came off the bench to hit eight-of-nine shots from the field and nine of 10 from the line. He also grabbed six rebounds, blocked three shots and pitched in three assists and two steals as Chico State improved to 13-4 overall and 9-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).
Carraway was cooking as well, knocking down 5-of-7 threes to finish with 17 points, four boards and three steals while providing excellent defense in the low post. Parker and Giordano Estrada chipped in 10 points apiece, while Park finished with eight.
Carraway, Chris Magalotti and Nate Appel did a nice job defending Sonoma State scoring leader Justin Herold, limiting him to 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting while forcing him into six turnovers. Wildcats starting center Jordan Barton played just three minutes in the first half before collecting his third foul on a technical and did not return.
Sonoma State fell to 3-14 overall and 2-11 in the CCAA.
The lead changed hands nine times before Chico State used a 10-0 run early in the second stanza to take the lead for good. Carraway and Estrada suck threes and Semple and Magalotti scored inside to give the Wildcats a 48-39 edge with 12:37 to play.
But the real story was their defense. Chico State held Sonoma State scoreless for a stretch of nearly seven minutes.
The Seawolves closed the gap to four on several occasions but could never make it a one-possession game.
Estrada stepped the to line and knocked down four straight free throws in the final minute to secure the win.
Chico State is back in action Saturday night against another Northern California rival, San Francisco State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
