OCEANSIDE – Just when it looked like the second Chico State-Cal State San Marcos matchup would again come down the final seconds, Corey Silverstrom put a stop to the drama. Silverstrom sank consecutive threes immediately after Cal State San Marcos took a one-point lead with 3:47 left, springing the decisive 11-0 run in the Wildcats' 83-73 victory Thursday night in Oceanside.
Silverstrom finished with a career-high 27 points, including 21 during a second half in which he buried all five of his 3-point attempts, as Chico State moved into sole possession of first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The 19
th-ranked Wildcats improved to 15-3 overall and 9-2 in the CCAA, taking a half-game lead over UC San Diego atop the conference standings.
Jalen McFerren grabbed a career-high 13
rebounds and notched his first career
double-double.Chico State shocked Cal State San Marcos 83-82 on Jalen McFerren's 50-foot buzzer beater on Dec. 12 in Chico. Thursday, the Wildcats didn't exactly break the Cougars' hearts, but they did snap their five-game winning streak.
Cal State San Marcos, which entered the evening in third place in the CCAA, dropped to 9-6 overall and 6-3 in conference play.
All five Chico State starters scored in double figures. Robert Duncan had 17 points, Jalen McFerren 11, and Tanner Giddings and Isaiah Ellis 10 apiece. McFerren also pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds.
The Wildcats trailed for most of the first half, but thanks in part to a pair of Nate Ambrosini threes, went to the half tied at 30. Silverstrom sparked what had been a mostly stagnant offense to that point with his huge second half. His aggressiveness also helped free up Duncan, who scored 14 in the second half.
Duncan's triple with 18:56 left gave Chico State the lead and started a 13-2 run capped by Duncan and Silverstrom threes. The lead ballooned to 12 before the Cougars stormed back, eventually taking a 64-63 lead with 3:47 left.
But on the next two possessions, Duncan found Silverstrom for threes, putting the Wildcats back in front for good. Duncan converted a three-point play that stretched the lead to 72-64 with 1:32 left. McFerren made four straight free throws to grow the lead to 11 and put the game away.
Chico State is off until next Friday night when it hosts Cal State Stanislaus.
The Wildcats will likely spend the weekend scoreboard watching. UC San Diego hosts Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State L.A.
