There's a new bully on the Northern California Division II basketball scene – Chico State. And the Wildcats hit from all angles.
Chico State improved to 20-5 overall and 15-5 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with an 81-73 victory against long-running rival Humboldt State Friday night at Acker Gym. Jordan Semple led five Wildcats in double-figures with 17 points as they sliced into the lane over and over again, drawing fouls and dropping buckets.
Chico State had seven players grab three or more rebounds en route to a 37-29 advantage on the boards.
The Wildcats are now 9-1 on the season against their former Northern California Athletic Conference foes Humboldt State, San Francisco State, Cal State Stanislaus, Sonoma State and Cal State East Bay (once known as Cal State Hayward) and 25-8 over the past three seasons.
Chico State swept the season series from Humboldt State and has now won six of the last eight meetings.
The Wildcats' 20-win season is its second in three years following an 18-year drought. This marks the third time the Wildcats have won 20 of their first 25, joining the 1992-93 and 1954-55 squads.
Giordano Estrada knocked down a tio of 3-pointers and scored 16 points, Rashad Parker finished with 15, Amir Carraway had 12 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots, and Sean Park scored 10. Jordan Barton gave the Wildcats – winners of six straight and nine of their last 10 – a big lift off the bench with eight points and six rebounds.
Chico State led from 4-2 on, building leads as large as 13 in the first half and 15 in the second half.
The Lumberjacks (11-16 overall, 6-15 CCAA) chopped the lead to seven with eight minutes left, but Barton made a free throw and then scored inside to keep the cushion comfortable.
They got as close as 75-70 before Estrada sank two free throws with 1:08 left and then 77-72 before Parker scored a punishing blow by as the shot clock wound down with 31 seconds left that proved to be the dagger.
The Wildcats will celebrate the careers of Park, Carraway, Parker, Nate Appel and Estrada on Senior Night Saturday when Cal Poly Pomona comes to town. The Broncos are the only team on Chico State's schedule is has yet to beat at least once this season.
