The Chico State men's basketball team's quest for a fourth California Collegiate Athletic Association title in seven seasons starts Saturday. The Wildcats open CCAA play on the road at long-time rival Humboldt State in a game that will be streamed live on ESPN3 and as the first game of the 2017-18 NCAA Division II Basketball Showcase.
 
The game will tip at approximately 7:30 p.m. CLICK HERE for the direct link.
The direct link to the women's game, which opens the doubleheader and begins at 5:30, is HERE.
 
More detailed information about ESPN3, and how to access it, can be found at the bottom of the release.
 
The game will also be broadcast in Chico on AM-1290 KPAY radio. Links to the online radio broadcast, live stats, and the ESPN3 stream can all be found via the links at the top of this story, on the men's basketball schedule page, and in the calendar section of the homepage.
 
The Wildcats won their first CCAA title in 2012, and then won back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016. They took over first place with a win at Humboldt State in their effort to three-peat last season, but a three-game losing streak that followed soon after ended those hopes. They finished third.
 
This season, with four returning starters from a school-record 26-win team, they are heavy favorites to finish back on top and claim their fourth title in seven seasons. They received 11 of a possible 12 first-place votes in the conference's preseason coaches poll.
 
Getting a win against their longest-running rivals would be a solid start. Chico State (1-1) comes into the game ranked No. 7 in the nation. The Wildcats opened the season with an 82–78 loss to Concordia-Irvine, but bounced back with an 80–58 thrashing of Biola University.

Humboldt State is 2-2 and coming off a 110–66 victory over Pacific Union after the Lumberjacks opened the season by going 1-2 at the Disney Tipoff Classic.
 
Chico State has won four in a row in the rivalry (including two straight in Arcata), which dates back to 1933. They will meet for the 202^nd time Saturday. The Wildcats lead the series 126–75.
 
The Wildcats beat Humboldt State handily twice last season. Jalen McFerren finished with 21 points and matched his career-best with 13 rebounds to lead the Chico State to a 96–73 victory in Chico on Dec. 6. In the second meeting, on Jan. 19 in Arcata, Corey Silverstrom scored a career-high 33 points to lead the Wildcats to a 100–83 win.
 
That marked the first time since Feb. 20, 2004, that Chico State had reached the century mark in a regulation conference game. It was the first time they had done it on the road since Jan. 23, 2002.

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