The Chico State men's basketball team's busiest stretch of the regular season–six games in 12 days–continues this week with three road games, beginning with a 7 p.m. matchup Monday night at Simpson University in Redding.
The Wildcats will then open California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play at UC San Diego Thursday and Cal State San Marcos Saturday.
Chico State, 5-1 and ranked No. 19 in the nation, enters the week on a four-game winning streak.
UC San Diego (5-1) is ranked No. 22 in the nation. The Tritons were picked to finish second in the CCAA, behind the Wildcats, in the conference's preseason coaches' poll. Their lone loss this season came against fifth-ranked California Baptist. UC San Diego will open conference play Tuesday at Cal Poly Pomona.
Cal State San Marcos, 4-2 overall and 0-1 in the CCAA after losing at Humboldt State Saturday night, hosts Cal State San Bernardino on Wednesday.
Chico State beat UC San Diego twice in conference play last season and eventually won their second straight CCAA title and third in five years by a game over the Tritons. However, UC San Diego exacted some revenge, beating the Wildcats in the opening round of the NCAA Championship Tournament.
Chico State has won 11 of the past 15 meetings between the teams and leads the all-time series 19-13.
The Wildcats also swept the season series against Cal State San Marcos last season, winning the first game 83-82 on Jalen McFerren's miracle buzzer-beater from half court. They beat the Cougars in San Marcos 83-73 later in the season.
But before heading south to open conference play, the Wildcats have a date with their Northern California neighbor, Simpson. The Redhawks have had a rough to start to their season, dropping 10 of their first 11, while allowing opponents an average of 86.5 points per game.
The Wildcats, who rank fourth in Division II in scoring defense at 57.7 points per game, have won all five of the previous meetings between the teams.
The Wildcats also rank 10
th in rebound martin (+10.1) and 31
st in total blocks with 26.
Monday night's game will be broadcast on the Internet only. Links to live stats and pay-per-view streaming video are also available in the calendar section and on the men's basketball schedule page. The games at UC San Diego and Cal State San Marcos will be broadcast locally on AM-1290 KPAY. Links to the online audio stream, live stats, and streaming video (the UC San Diego feed is pay-per-view) are on our homepage, on the men's basketball schedule page, and below:
Monday at Simpson-7 p.m.
Radio: None
Audio
Streaming video ($)
Livestats
Thursday at UC San Diego-7:30 p.m.
Radio: AM-1290 KPAY
Audio
Streaming video ($)
Livestats
Saturday at Cal State San Marcos-7:30 p.m.
Radio: AM-1290 KPAY
Audio
Streaming video
Livestats
