The Chico State men's basketball team survived a major test Saturday at Acker Gym against California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) rival Sonoma State. The visiting Seawolves led for over half the game and forged an eight-point advantage midway through the second half. But in a defensive-oriented contest that saw both teams shoot less than 40 percent on the night, Sonoma was outscored by Chico State 17-7 over the final seven minutes and saw its apparent game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer waved off by the officials, giving the 'Cats a nail-biting 53-50 victory.
 
Chico State has now won three straight to improve to 9-2 on the season and 3-1 in the CCAA. With Saturday's loss, Sonoma State slips to 6-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
 
Corey Silverstrom led all scorers, netting 15 of his game-high 20 points in the second half. Justin Briggs added eight points and seven rebounds for the Wildcats, while Robert Duncan dished out four assists on the night.
 
Chico State came out firing from long range in the first half, as 3-pointers by Silverstrom, Nate Ambrosini and Jalen McFerren staked the 'Cats to an early 20-16 lead. The Wildcats suddenly went cold, though, mustering only two field goals in the final seven minutes of the period, allowing Sonoma State to use a 12-7 run to take a 28-27 advantage into halftime.
 
Things didn't get much better at the beginning of the second 20-minute stanza. It took the 'Cats nearly seven minutes to register their first bucket in the second half, and by that time Sonoma State had extended its lead to 37-29. The Seawolves were still up by eight with nine minutes remaining when the Wildcats' offense finally began to click. Three treys by Silverstrom and a Justin Briggs jumper put Chico State on top, and thanks to two Silverstrom free throws, a charity toss from Michael Bethea, Jr. and a Briggs dunk, the 'Cats took their biggest lead of the game at 49-43 with 3:14 to go.
 
Sonoma State refused to pack it, cutting the deficit to two with 1:36 remaining. But a big defensive stop by the Wildcats combined with two McFerren free throws pushed the 'Cats' advantage to 51-47.
 
A 3-pointer by Jackson Gion on Sonoma's next possession made it a one-point game, but with six seconds left Silverstrom delivered two clutch free throws to put the Wildcats up by three. As the final buzzer sounded, Gion banked in a desperation 3-pointer for the Seawolves, and for a split second it appeared the game would be heading into overtime.
 
Instead, the officials immediately ruled that Gion had not gotten the shot off before time expired, wiping out the trey and giving Chico State the heart-stopping 53-50 victory.    
 
The Wildcat men play one more game before breaking for the holidays. Chico State hosts the Pioneers of Pacific Union College Monday night at Acker Gym, with tipoff slated for 7 p.m.