For weeks the home fans anxiously awaited their first chance to see the 8^th-ranked Chico State men's basketball team at this weekend's Carl's Jr. Mac Martin Invitational. In some ways, they are still waiting.
 
Seemingly still stinging from their first loss of the season in Friday night's home opener, the Wildcats produced a lackluster performance Saturday in a 68-55 victory over Simpson University from just up the road in Redding.
 
The Wildcats (4-1) played nothing like they had in rolling to three straight road wins to start the season. Their youth was more evident than the dominance displayed over those first three games.  
 

The night wasn't without its bright spots, however. Isaiah Ellis logged his first career double-double, finishing with 12 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Corey Silverstrom led the Wildcats in scoring with 16 points in 22 minutes off the bench. Robert Duncan racked up 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
 
Ellis, Tyler Harris and Duncan scored the last three buckets of the first half to give Chico State a 35-21 halftime lead.
 
A Harris 3-pointer, free throw, and two more charities from Ellis pushed the bulge to 55-35 with 9:33 remaining. Silverstrom sank a pair of free throws with 5:10 remaining to provide the Wildcats with their biggest lead of the night at 64-42.
 
Simpson (2-11) finished the game with a 13-4 run. Josh Brakkee's game-high 19 points paced the Red Hawks.
 
In Saturday night's first contest, 23^rd-ranked Seattle Pacific defeated Cal State East Bay 71-57.
 
The Wildcats are back in action Tuesday night against William Jessup in Rocklin. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 and the game will be broadcast locally on AM-1290 KPAY.
 
Chico State opens California Collegiate Athletic Association action Friday night at San Francisco State.