TUCSON, Ariz. – The national narrative surrounding the Division I No. 10 University of Arizona's 78-70 exhibition victory over Division II No. 11 Chico State will undoubtedly focus on Arizona's struggles. But for Chico State fans who listened on AM-1290 KPAY or watched on the Pac-12 Network it was this: If the Wildcats can play the brand of basketball they displayed Sunday afternoon at the McKale Center, this could have the makings of a very special season.
 
Chico State led by 12 midway through the first half, 40-37 at halftime, and it was a one possession game with a minute to play.
 

Isaiah Ellis nearly drew a charge with 40 seconds to play and Chico State trailing by three. But the whistle never sounded and Arizona took advantage with a layup on the decisive possession.
 
Arizona hit three of four free throws down the stretch for the final margin of victory.
 
Ellis and Robert Duncan led Chico State with 16 points apiece. Corey Silverstrom scored 10 of his 15 in the second half and hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final nine minutes, both of which cut the score to one.
 
Led by point guard Jalen McFerren's nine rebounds, Chico State outrebounded Arizona 30-28. McFerren also had four assists and no turnovers in 29 minutes.
 
Redshirt freshman Justin Briggs also had an impressive night, finishing with eight points, three rebounds and a blocked shot in 16 minutes of action.
 
A 10-0 surge gave Chico State a 29-17 lead with 9:43 to play in the first half. Michael Bethea, Jr., scored inside, Ellis converted a three-point play and layup, and then Silverstrom sank a 3-pointer.
 
Arizona scored the next 16 points, but the Wildcats were not about to shrink from the challenge. Bethea's three cut the lead to one, and then Duncan scored the next seven points to put Chico State back into the lead at 39-33.
 
Arizona opened the second half with a 7-2 surge before Briggs scored inside to tie the game at 44.
 
Arizona built the lead up to nine on a pair of occasions, but a 10-2 run, capped by consecutive threes by Duncan and Silverstrom, had Chico State within one with 8:59 remaining.
 
Again, Arizona responded, building its lead back to seven. But again, Chico State answered back.
 

Ellis followed Duncan's reverse layup with back to back jumpers in the paint to cut the deficit to 69-68 with three minutes left. Ellis hit two free throws with 1:03 remaining to get the Wildcats back to within three before nearly drawing the charge on the defensive end.
 
Chico State finished with 14 assists and 13 turnovers. The visiting Wildcats shot 48 percent from the floor and made nine threes (six more than the hosts). Arizona did the majority of its damage from the free throw line, where it made good on 31 of 36 attempts.
 
Last season at Arizona, Chico State challenged the hosts for the first three quarters of the game before Arizona dominated down the stretch for a 90-54 victory. This season, Chico State put a real scare into the hosts.
 
Chico State, which finished the exhibition season 2-1, will open the regular season at the Concordia-Irvine Tournament next weekend against Concordia Friday and Biola Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tipoff at 1 p.m.

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