Chico State's basketball fans were in giving mood on New Year's Eve in Acker Gym, providing more than 400 food items for the Hungry Wildcat Pantry. The Wildcats were not, holding previously-unbeaten and 15^th-ranked San Francisco State to 20 first-half points on the way to a 75–61 win Saturday afternoon.
 
Corey Silverstrom scored a game-high 21 points to go along with five rebounds and five assists as the Wildcats improved to 12-2 and moved into second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings at 5-1.
 

San Francisco State slipped to 11-1 overall and 4-1 in the CCAA.
 
Robert Duncan scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds–all in the first half. Jalen McFerren finished with 13 points. Isaiah Ellis had nine points, nine rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and two steals. And redshirt freshman Justin Briggs notched his first collegiate double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
 
With its eighth straight win against the Gators, Chico State also evened up the all-time series against its oldest rival, 101-101.
 
Chico State dominated the glass Saturday, outrebounding San Francisco State 43–28, and enjoyed a 12–3 first-half edge in second-chance points while building a 32–20 halftime lead.
 
The Wildcats held San Francisco State scoreless for more than five minutes in the middle portion of the opening half to grab the lead for good.
 
Chico State, which boasts the nation's top-ranked scoring defense, held San Francisco State–averaging 84 points per contest–to just 20 in the first half.
 
Meanwhile, Silverstrom asserted himself offensively in the closing minutes of the half, sandwiching a jump shot between two 3-balls and then assisting on Isaiah Ellis' layup at the buzzer.
 
An 8–1 push early in the second half put the Wildcats in complete control. Ellis fed Marvin Timothy for a monster slam to spark the run, capped by consecutive triples by Jalen McFerren and Silverstrom.
 
The lead grew as large as 24 before San Francisco State outscored the Wildcats 16–6 over the game's final 6:42. But the Gators never got within striking distance during the second half.
 
Chico State, now 8-0 at home and winners of six straight, will play its first game of 2017 Friday night at 7:30 at Cal State San Bernardino.
 
Chico State athletics has been a vital supporter of the Hungry Wildcat Pantry since its inception. The Hungry Wildcat Pantry provides food, food program assistance support, and referral services for students experiencing food insecurity. For more information or to donate to the pantry, please call (530) 898-6131.