With a rivalry game at Humboldt State Thursday and chance for revenge at Cal Poly Pomona Saturday, the Chico State men's basketball team has plenty to ponder. And the Wildcats had plenty of time to do just that Wednesday while making their way to Arcata. With Highway 299 closed, they took a long five-and-a-half hour drive down toward the Bay and then up the coast.
 
Chico State, 15-2 and ranked No. 19 in the nation, hits the road riding a nine-game winning streak. The Wildcats are 8-1 in conference play, and with two wins this weekend would move into no worse than a tie for first atop the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings.
 
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.
 
The Wildcats beat Humboldt State 96–73 earlier this season in Chico. Jalen McFerren finished with 21 points and matched his career-best with 13 rebounds. Isaiah Ellis added 13 points, Corey Silverstrom and Justin Briggs 12 apiece, and Robert Duncan and Nate Ambrosini scored 10 each. Silverstrom also set a new career-high in steals with four.
 
Defensively, Chico State held the CCAA's leading offense 19 points below its season average entering the game. Humboldt State's leading scorers–Tyras Rattler, Jr., Nikhil Lizotte, and Malik Morgan–were averaging a combined 47 points per game. Chico State held the trio to 16.
 
But the Wildcats know that Thursday night's affair may not go as smoothly. Chico State has lost nine of its past 12 games in Arcata despite last season's 86–68 win there.
 
Coming off four straight losses, the Lumberjacks are 8-8 overall and 3-6 in the CCAA. However, they are 35-4 at home since the start of the 2014-15 season, including 6-1 this season.
 
At 3-10, Cal Poly Pomona is off to its worst start since the 1983-84 campaign. But Chico State will likely be looking to last season to find its motivation for this game. The Broncos, who host Stanislaus State Thursday night, beat Chico State twice last season. The second time they rallied from 18 points down with just over 10 minutes to go to beat Chico State 67–61 in front of an Acker Gym-record crowd of 2,057 in a game broadcast on ESPN3 as the NCAA Division II Game of the Week.
 
Cal Poly Pomona has won three straight against the Wildcats and eight of the last 11 meetings between the teams.
 
Chico State enters the weekend ranked No. 3 nationally in scoring defense, seventh in rebound margin, and ninth in blocked shots.