STANFORD, California—The Chico State men's basketball team opened its tour of the Pac-12 Thursday night and performed worthy of its No. 7 ranking in Division II. Following a shaky start, the Wildcats roared back into its exhibition game at Stanford University, twice taking the lead, before eventually succumbing to the Cardinal, 91–81, at Maples Pavilion.
The Wildcats will play at Arizona Sunday at 3 p.m. in a game that will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.
Outside of some second-half defensive struggles, the Wildcats' exhibition opener featured plenty of bright spots against the Cardinal, picked in the preseason to finish fifth in the Pac-12.
Nate Ambrosini scored 12 points Thursday.
Chico State's bench, which features five freshmen, outscored the Cardinal's bench 36–32. And the Wildcats forced 17 turnovers. As a team, Chico State shot 49 percent from the floor and buried 8-of-16 threes. And the team's senior and freshman point guards, Jalen McFerren and Isaiah Brooks, combined for four assists and no turnovers in 36 minutes.
All 12 Wildcats in uniform contributed. Justin Briggs' led the way in scoring with 14 points. Corey Silverstrom totaled 12 and dished out a team-high three assists. Nate Amborsini and Isaiah Ellis chipped in 11 points apiece.
The Wildcats missed four of their first five shots and had four early turnovers in falling behind 14–2. But they turned things around on the defensive end. Ellis drew a pair of charges to spark a 31–17 run that briefly gave them their first of two leads.
Keith Datu delivered a three-point play and hit a 3-pointer and Briggs scored eight points as Chico State climbed back into it. A Silverstrom steal lead to Ambosini's bucket that tied the game at 28.
Silverstrom's second triple, with 1:18 to play in the half, put the Wildcats up for the first time, 33–31. The teams went to the half tied at 35.
Briggs' free throw out of the break gave Chico State its last lead of the night, 36–35.
The Cardinal hit 17-of-26 second-half shots and used a 13–2 push to take control of the game. Chico State never got back to within striking distance.
Sunday's game will mark the third straight season Chico State has played at Arizona. The hosts are ranked No. 3 in the nation and might be motivated by Chico State's near miss last season in Tucscon.
The Wildcats put a bit of a scare into Arizona last season before losing 78–70. The Division II Wildcats led the Division I Wildcats by 12 mid-way through the first half, 40-37 at halftime, and it was a one possession game with a minute to play.
Arizona Head Coach Sean Miller isn't planning to let his team get surprised by Chico State again.
"Chico State will be an upgrade," Miller told Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star following Arizona's 91–63 exhibition win versus Eastern New Mexico Thursday. "Chico State has a chance to win the national championship at their level. So hopefully this game will prepare us to be that much better on Sunday."
