A February fight for first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association is hard to beat. Two in a row is almost unheard of. Well, listen here: that's the treat awaiting fans of the Chico State men's basketball team this weekend at Acker Gym.
 
Winners of seven straight overall and five in a row at home, the Wildcats are 14-5 overall and 11-3 in the CCAA. They host UC San Diego Friday night. The Tritons are a game out of first place at 10-4, and 12-6 overall. They handed Chico State its worst conference loss in two years with a 69-53 shellacking on Jan. 3 in La Jolla. Chico State's other eight CCAA losses since the beginning of last season were by a combined 17 points.
 
Chico State hosts conference co-leader Cal Poly Pomona (15-4, 11-3 CCAA) Saturday night. The Wildcats held off the Broncos for a 51-50 victory Jan. 2 in Pomona.
 
Both games are schedule to tipoff at 7:30 p.m. Fans unable to attend this weekend's games can follow the action locally on Newstalk 1290 KPAY-AM, with Mike Baca and Mike Wessels handling the play-by-play. The broadcast will be simulcast on the Internet via ChicoWildcats.com, with Live Stats and live streaming video also available on the homepage and schedule page.
 
Cal State Stanislaus, which is tied for second with UC San Diego a game behind co-leaders Chico State and Cal Poly Pomona, hosts Cal Poly Pomona Friday and UC San Diego Saturday.
 
Needless to say the eventual winner of the CCAA crown will likely be able to look back on this weekend's results as a key step toward the title.
 
Humboldt State and Cal State San Bernardino are currently tied for sixth in the conference standings at 8-6. The top six teams in the final standings will advance to the CCAA Championship Tournament March 5-7 at Stockton Arena.
 
Not surprisingly, the top four teams in the conference standings are the four top-ranked defenses. Cal Poly Pomona is allowing just 54.9 points per game, Chico State 58.1, UC San Diego 59.6 and Cal State Stanislaus 60.2 in conference play.
 
The Wildcats have been at their best of late, limiting six consecutive opponents to 59 points or fewer.