ARCATA—The North Coast has never been an easy destination for visiting basketball teams. It's hard to get to Humboldt State, the Lumberjacks are historically strong, and the crowd in Lumberjack arena is loud.
 
The Chico State men's basketball team isn't hearing any of it. The Wildcats won impressively in Arcata for the third season in a row Saturday, beating the Lumberjacks 77–67 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association opener for both teams.
 
The Wildcats, who have now won five straight in the series, improved to 2–1 overall. Humboldt State dipped to 2–3.
 
Isaiah Ellis provided plenty of highlights—soaring dunks and four blocked shots—for the folks who streamed the game on ESPN3 and WatchESPN. The senior scored a game-high 22 points, grabbed a career-high four steals, and matched his career best in blocks.
 
Corey Silverstrom, who scored a career-high 33 in last season's win in Arcata, scored 20 on Saturday. Justin Briggs bagged 11 points and 11 rebounds for his second collegiate double-double.
 
The Wildcats struggled with their shot in the opening stanza, connecting just 14 times in 37 attempts and missing seven of eight threes. But the built a lead behind suffocating defense. The Wildcats forced nine turnovers and turned them into 15 points and led 36–26 at the half.
 
They stretched it to 41-26 when Silverstrom hit a jumper and Nate Ambrosini sank a 3-pointer to start the second half.
 
A few minutes later, Briggs scored on a left-handed hook and then Ellis stole the ball on the other end, and went end to end for a slam and a 16-point lead.
 
The lead grew as large as 19, and though the Lumberjacks made some 3s to whittle away at the lead down the stretch, they never got closer than 10.
 
The Wildcats will wade back into non-conference play in their home opener Wednesday night at 7:30 against Dominican.