It was Senior Night Saturday at San Francisco State. Few things can drive home the point so decisively that collegiate careers are fleeting.
 
Jordan Semple's four seasons in a Chico State men's basketball uniform have flown by. Perhaps reminded by the Gators' pre-game ceremonies that little time remains to make a final lasting impression, Semple put together one of the signature games in an already legendary career to lead the Wildcats to a crucial 65-57 win at The Swamp.
 

Semple scored a season-high 25 points and totaled 12 rebounds, five assists and a career-best four steals to help hand the Gators just their third home loss of the season and give the Wildcats control over their California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship fate with just two home games remaining. His double-double was the 21^st of his career, tying Aaron Martella for most in school history.
 
He hit 10-of-12 shots from the field, 2-of-3 from 3-point range and 3-of-4 from the line.
 
Wins Friday night against Cal State Monterey Bay and Saturday, on Senior Night, against Cal State East Bay, would guarantee Chico State at least a share of its second CCAA crown in four seasons.
 
Chico State improved to 19-6 overall and 16-4 in the CCAA with its 12^th win in the past 13 games.
 
Having already tied the school record for most conference victories in a season, the Wildcats are tied atop the conference standings with Cal Poly Pomona with two to play. The Broncos finish the regular season on the road at Cal State San Bernardino and Humboldt State on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
 
The Wildcats were in serious danger of falling out of first for much of Saturday night. Drew Kitchens' first basket of the game, a baseline 3-pointer with 1:11 remaining, gave the Wildcats a 61-57 edge and some long sought-after breathing room. Tanner Giddings set up the play with a gorgeous cross-court pass.
 

Mike Rosaroso and Semple sank two free throws apiece during the final 36 seconds to secure the win and the highest point total allowed by the Gators at home this season.
 
Chico State led by as many as nine late in the first half. But the Gators and senior Chico native Bren Haley would not go down without a serious fight. Haley hit 5-of-5 threes in the first half, including two in the final 1:28 that keyed an 11-0 run.
 
The lead changed hands eight time over a nine-minute span at the start of the second half.
 
The Wildcats took the lead for good on Giddings' dunk, assisted by an attacking semple, with 6:23 to play. But San Francisco State stayed within striking distance, and Udun Osakue's 3-pointer with 2:39 left cut the lead to one.
 
Kitchens had the answer, though, and the Wildcats held on to complete the series sweep against San Francisco State. They beat the Gators 61-59 in triple-overtime on Jan. 16 in Chico and have now won five straight and eight of nine against their long-time North State rivals.
 
Giddings finished with 12 points and three assists. Corey Silverstrom made an important contribution off the bench in place of the struggling Robert Duncan, suppling seven points, three rebounds and a steal.
 
Duncan had averaged 20 points per game while shooting 67 percent over the past six contests. But he was just 1-for-7 Saturday and finished with three points.
 
Semple limited Osakue – ­averaging more than 15 points per game entering the night – to just six points on 2-of-11 shooting.
 
The Wildcats finished with a 29-25 advantage on the glass and outscored the Gators 30-16 in the paint.