Simpson University tried to play the part of North Valley Giant Killer. But the Red Hawks could not bring down the biggest Wildcat of them all, Justin Briggs.
 
Briggs scored a game-high 15 points, pulled down 17 rebounds—the most by a Wildcat since 2005—and blocked three shots to lead the Chico State men's basketball team to a 60–53 victory over their neighbors to the north Tuesday night at Acker Gym.
 
Will Bonner was the last Wildcat with that many rebounds. He scored 24 points and pulled down 17 boards in a memorable 107–105 upset victory at Cal State San Bernardino on Feb. 12, 2005.
 
The Wildcats are now 7-0 all time against Redding-based Simpson, which until this meeting, had never played the Wildcats particularly close. The smallest margin of victory prior to Tuesday night came in 2014, when Chico State won by 13. And the Wildcats actually led that game by 22 with five minutes to play.
 
Tuesday night was very different.
 

Briggs broke a 49-all tie with 4:43 to play, starting the deciding 11–2 run. He also blocked a shot, grabbed a rebound, and made a free throw during that decisive stretch.
 
Nate Ambrosini's jumper stretched the lead to four, and he assisted on 3-pointers by Isaiah Ellis and Jalen McFerren's triple that increased the Wildcats' cushion to 59–51 with just 1:44 left.
 
Corey Silverstrom scored 13 points for the Wildcats. McFerren finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Ambrosini added 10 points.
 
Chico State, now 21-0 against NAIA and NCAA Division III teams under Head Coach Greg Clink, is now 8-2 overall. The Wildcats have also won six straight and 18 of their last 19 at home. Simpson slipped to 5-7.
 
While playing their final non-conference game of the regular season, the Wildcats also got good conference news. With Cal Poly Pomona's loss at Cal State San Bernardino, Chico State is now holds a percentage-points lead atop the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings.
 
Chico State is 5-1, followed by Cal Poly Pomona (4-1) and Cal State San Marcos (3-1).
 
Following a 10-day layoff, the Wildcats will jump back into conference action at home against Cal State L.A. on Dec. 29 at 7:30 p.m., and Cal State Dominguez Hills in a 2 p.m. New Year's Eve Matinee.