SAN RAFAEL – The 3-pointers have not been falling for the Chico State men's basketball team thus far this season, so the Wildcats went inside to get their three-point plays the old-fashioned way Wednesday in a 67–54 win at Dominican University in the Conlan Center in San Rafael.
 
The 11^th-ranked Wildcats showed a renewed resolve to get the ball into the post, and as a result, converted on five three-point plays. The Wildcats scored 42 points in the paint on the night.
 
"I think the numbers bear out that we did a good job (getting the ball inside) and I was pleased with that part of our offense," Head Coach Greg Clink told Mike Baca on the AM-1290 KPAY Postgame Show. "I still think we have some work to do, but overall, I think we made some progress."
 
Isaiah Ellis and Justin Briggs both finished with 14 points and six rebounds. Corey Silverstrom scored 13 points and pulled down a career-high eight rebounds. Robert Duncan was the fourth Wildcat in double-figures with 11 points. Duncan also grabbed three steals, bringing his career total to 93, and passing former teammate Sean Park for ninth on the program's all-time list.
 

After scuffling for the first 12 minutes and falling behind 18–12, the Wildcats closed the half on a 23–7 run sparked by seven points and two assists from Jalen McFerren.
 
Silverstrom scored five of the Wildcats' last seven points of the half and then scored on a drive to open the second half. Chico State scored the first four points of the second half to build its lead to 14.
 
The Wildcats led by double-figures the rest of the way and built their lead to 17 with a 6-0 run to put the game away. Briggs scored inside, Silverstrom scored in transition, and then Briggs scored inside again to make it 63–46 with 4:25 to play.
 
Briggs had 12 points, five rebounds and a blocked shot in the second half.
 
The Wildcats will play their 2016-17 home opener next Tuesday against Stanislaus State in a non-conference affair, and then host the annual Carl's Jr. Mac Martin Invitational that weekend.