The Chico State men's basketball team is off to a historic start. At 13-2 and ranked No. 23 in the nation, the Wildcats are just the second Chico State men's basketball team to win at least 13 of its first 15 games–and the first since the 1940-41 campaign. But the Wildcats are primarily concerned with how they will finish. And Friday night's visit from Cal State L.A. serves as timely reminder that once lost, good mojo can be hard to rediscover.
 
The Golden Eagles beat the Wildcats twice in the span of four days at the end of last season, nipping them 65–64 in the regular-season finale, and then knocking them out of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Tournament, 54–37. That marked just the second time in 54 years the Wildcats had been held to 37 or fewer.
 
Chico State, which started last season 22-4, lost its final three games. The team's sizzling start ended with a fizzle.
 
With 10 players back from that team, the experienced Wildcats are committed to doing everything in their power to make sure it does not happen again. They are also attempting to win their third straight CCAA title–something no program has done since Cal State San Bernardino won its third straight in 2003-04. Chico State is 6-1 in conference play and tied with San Francisco State for second place. UC San Diego leads the way at 8-0.
 
Those quests continue this weekend. The game against Cal State L.A. is scheduled to tip at 7:30 p.m., as is Saturday's showdown with Cal State Dominguez Hills.
 
The Wildcats could make more history with two wins. At 8-0 at home this season, they have a chance to break the program record for consecutive home wins to start a season, which is currently nine, held by the 1997-98 Wildcats.
 
Cal State L.A. enters the game at 7-9 overall and 3-5 in the CCAA under first-year Head Coach Jim Saia, who left Cal State San Marcos to lead the Golden Eagles after eight seasons.
 
In conference games, Cal State L.A. leads the CCAA in field-goal percentage (.495), while Chico State leads in field-goal percentage defense (.386).
 
Cal State Dominguez Hills–one of the hottest teams in the conference, having won eight of its last 10–is 8-4. The Toros are 4-2 in the CCAA and coming off three straight wins, having bested Cal State San Marcos (81-71), Cal Poly Pomona (65-57) and Humboldt State (90-70).
 
The game features the top two rebounding teams in the CCAA statistically. Chico State leads the conference and ranks 10^th in the nation in rebounding margin at plus-9.3. Cal State Dominguez Hills is second in the CCAA and 11th in the nation at plus-8.9.
 
This weekend could also mark a big personal milestone for Chico State senior guard Robert Duncan, who needs just seven more points to reach 1,000 in his career. Only 15 players in the program's history have reached that mark. If Duncan does, he will join Deon Robinson as the only Wildcats with career totals eclipsing 1,000 points, 200 assists and 100 steals. Only Robinson and Damario Sims have totals eclipsing 1,000 points and 200 assists.  
 
Defensively, the Wildcats are in a dogfight with long-time rival Sonoma State for the nation's lead in scoring defense. Chico State, which has allowed only 59.9 points a game, is currently ranked second in the nation.
 
Justin Briggs and Isaiah Ellis are two big reasons why. Briggs already has 36 blocks this season–the most in the CCAA and 10^th most in the nation. Ellis, meanwhile, moved into 10^th on the school's career blocked shots list last weekend with his 50^th.
 
Every Chico State basketball game this season will be broadcast locally on Newstalk 1290 KPAY-AM. Links to streaming audio, video and live stats are available in the calendar section on the ChicoWildcats.com homepage and on the men's basketball schedule page.