After getting off to the best start in program history at 20-4 and winning its second consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Association championship, the Chico State men's basketball team had visions of making even more history in the 2016 postseason
 
Just not the kind they made Tuesday night.
 
The Wildcats became just the second #1 seed to fall in the opening round of the CCAA Championship Tournament – and the first since 2008 – with a 54-37 loss to upstart Cal State L.A. in Acker Gym.
 
It was the team's lowest offensive output since a 77-37 loss to DePaul on Dec. 3, 1984 in Chicago, Illinois, and just the second time in 54 years the Wildcats been held to 37 or fewer.   
 
An athletic and aggressive Cal State L.A. defense held the Wildcats to 26 percent shooting from the field and 8-percent from beyond the arc (1-of-13). After Isaiah Ellis tied the game at 26 on a slash to the basket, assisted by Tanner Giddings, Chico State proceeded to miss 23 of its final 27 shots, including 9-of-10 threes. They also missed 5-of-7 free throws during that stretch.
 
After Ellis' bucket, the Wildcats missed eight straight shots and went 6:41 without scoring while Cal State L.A. used a 9-0 run to take a 35-26 lead. After three straight buckets drew the Wildcats to within four, they missed 15 of 16 shots over the final 7:30. The Golden Eagles finished the game on a 17-4 run.
 
This marks first two-game losing streak of the season for the Wildcats, who entered the game with a record of 22-5 and ranked No. 15 in the nation. Both of those losses have come in the last four days against Cal State L.A. The Golden Eagles beat the Wildcats 65-64 Saturday in Los Angeles.
 
Giddings led the Wildcats with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. The other four Chico State starters combined to shoot just 5-for-32.
 
Meanwhile, Duce Zaid was 9-for-13, including 6-of-9 from beyond the arc, and led the Golden Eagles with 26 points and 15 rebounds.
 
Cal State L.A. has now won eight of its last nine to improve to 11-17.
 
The Golden Eagles will face Humboldt State Friday in Stockton in a CCAA Championship Tournament semifinal game. The winner will play for the title and an automatic NCAA Championship Tournament bid.
 
The Wildcats will now hold their collective breath. The most recent regional rankings will be revealed Wednesday afternoon, and could offer some insight about where their NCAA Championship Tournament hopes stand. But nothing will be certain until Sunday night's NCAA Division II Championship Tournament Selection Show, which airs at 7:30 and will reveal whether the Wildcats will be making their fifth straight trip to the Big Dance.
 
Chico State was ranked No. 2 in the most recent regional rankings. But that was prior to Thursday night's CCAA title clinching win at home against Cal State Dominguez Hills and Saturday's loss. Wednesday's rankings will not include Tuesday night's results, so they will only partially reveal the position the Wildcats now find themselves in.
 
If Chico State is selected, those dreams of making the good kind of postseason history will still be alive. The Wildcats now have nine days off to work on making them a reality.