ONTARIO – The Chico State men's basketball team cleared one big hurdle by beating Cal Poly Pomona for the first time in two seasons, 77-73, in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament semifinals Friday.
The Wildcats have a chance to clear a bigger one in Saturday's 5:05 p.m. title game against Cal State Stanislaus at Citizens Business Bank Arena. They'll be making their third straight appearance in the final but have yet to bring home the "Blue Banner" and automatic NCAA Championship Tournament berth awarded to the winner of the CCAA Championship Tournament.
The Broncos have had Chico State seeing green over the past two seasons, beating the Wildcats four times last season (twice in the postseason) and twice more this year. They came from 18 points down at the half to beat Chico State in the regular season finale a week ago.
It looked like the same old story might be playing out when the 22nd-ranked Broncos used a 12-2 run to take a second-half lead that grew to seven with 10 minutes left. Jordan Semple, Sean Park and the rest of the 'Cats had other plans.
Semple was the best player on the floor Friday, finishing with 24 points and 11 rebounds. He also dished to Park for his first made 3-pointer of the night with 18 seconds left to stretch Chico State's lead to four. Park made two free throws with nine ticks left to put the game away.
Amir Carraway finished with 18 points and gave Chico State the lead for good with a tip-in with four minutes remaining. Rashad Parker and Giordano Estrada scored 12 points apiece and Park finished with 11.
"I couldn't be more proud. We hit some bumps in the second half but responded well and got back to our gameplan. We really executed well in the last six or seven minutes," said Chico State Head Coach Greg Clink. "We didn't talk a lot about Xs and Os getting ready for this one. We just told them that we can do this if we execute the game plan and we're aggressive for 40 minutes."
Chico State improved to 22-6 and has now beaten every team on its schedule at least once. They had to score more than any of the Broncos' opponents have this season to do it. The Wildcats shot 50 percent from the floor and 21-of-24 from the free throw line.
Parker and Carraway hit two apiece and Semple one of two as Chico State grew its lead to 72-66 with 1:41 left. DeRonn Scott scored five in a row to draw the Broncos within one before Park's dagger.
"We ran an iso play but I slipped on a wet spot right when I was getting ready to shoot," said Semple. "Sean did a good job of freeing up and knocked down a big shot. He'll remember that one for a long time."
Park had struggled offensively in both tournament games but didn't hesitate to pull the trigger on the game's biggest shot.
"I hadn't shot particularly well but I still have to step up and shoot when I get an open look," said the Senior who moved past former teammate Damario Sims into seventh on Chico State's career scoring list.
It's entirely possible these teams cold meet again next weekend in the NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional. It's also a safe bet they would rather not be on the same side of the bracket.
"Pomona's a very good team and we have tremendous respect for them," said Carraway. "The last six games
were difficult so this feels real good. It's never easy against them."
Scott, who led Cal Poly Pomona (21-6) with 17 points, six rebounds and four assists, expressed a similar sentiment.
"I actually hate playing them because nothing comes easy. They make you fight for everything," said Scott. "I
have a lot of respect for that team and my coaches and teammates feel the same way."
The Wildcats split the regular season series with Cal State Stanislaus, losing 80-78 in overtime in Turlock on Nov. 16 and winning 88-67 in Chico on Dec. 14. The teams have not met in the postseason since the Wildcats beat Cal State Stanislaus in the 1993 Northern California Athletic Conference Shaughnessy Playoffs.
