Regression to the mean can seem, well, mean. The Chico State men's basketball team found that out the hard way at this weekend's 55^th annual Carl's Jr. Mac Martin Invitational.
 
The Wildcats were ranked atop the nation in field goal percentage at 62 percent. But they connected on only 40 percent of their attempts in two losses this weekend, including 38 percent in Saturday night's 75-61 loss against Azusa Pacific.
 
Chico State misfired on nine of its first 11 shots and suffered through an 0-for-6 drought a bit later in falling behind by 17. The Wildcats – ranked 12^th in the nation entering the weekend – never recovered.
 
The 3-point shot is an important weapon if a team is to come from behind, but Chico State missed 15 of its 19 tries from beyond the arc, including nine in a row during a 20-minute stretch. They entered the game shooting just under 50 percent (31-for-60) from distance.
 
The 6-1 Cougars built a lead as large as 25 before Robert Duncan delivered from 3-point range to stop the streak and then Mike Rosaroso hit back-to-back threes to cut the lead to 13.
 
The Wildcats never got closer than 12, however, in falling to 3-2 on the season.
 
Duncan finished with a team-high 15 points and Rosaroso scored a career-high 14. Jordan Semple, the lone Wildcat named to the All-Tournament Team, chipped in 10 points and a team season-high six assists. His fourth and final rebound of the night was the 689^th of his career, pushing him past Aaron Martella (1990-94) into third on the program's career list.
 
Azusa Pacific's Troy Leaf, the Tournament MVP, led all scorers with 17 points and added five assists and six steals. Fellow All-Tournament selection Robert Sandoval scored 11 points. Will Ward came off the bench to contribute 12 points and six boards.
 
San Francisco State's Bren Haley (a graduate of Chico's Pleasant Valley High School) scored a career-high 15 points in the Gators' 63-58 win against Dominican and fellow All-Tournament selection Matt Hayes (nine points and eight assists Saturday).
 
The Wildcats will open conference play next weekend at Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State L.A. Their home conference opener is Dec. 20 against Cal State Stanislaus one week after they face the Warriors on the road.