SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.—The Chico State men's basketball team ran away with a victory that Anthony Costales can be proud of Sunday afternoon at Cal State San Bernardino. Costales, a Chico State distance running alum, was likely too busy celebrating his fourth-place finish at the USA Track & Field Marathon Championships Sunday morning to tune in, but will be delighted with the endurance the basketball team displayed during its 83–64 win at Coussoulis Arena.
Just 40 hours prior to Sunday's tipoff, the Wildcats wrapped up a double-overtime thriller at Cal Poly Pomona. The fear was that Friday's effort might have sapped the Wildcats' strength enough to negatively affect their performance Sunday.
Instead, the Wildcats gapped the host Coyotes with a 15–3 run to close the first half, and then ran away with the win after the break.
The Wildcats' three seniors showed no signs of fatigue. Jalen McFerren, who played a career-high 44 minutes Friday, finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and matched his career high with eight assists. Isaiah Ellis contributed 17 points, eight rebounds, and three steals. And Corey Silverstrom, who played 48 minutes Friday, finished with 14 points.
"It starts with us three making sure we bring the energy from the jump," Ellis told Mike Baca of AM-1290 KPAY during his postgame show.
Chico State improved to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association with its eighth straight win against the Coyotes, who they have now beaten 13 times in their last 14 meetings.
Jalen McFerren finished with 17 points, 11
rebounds, and eight assists.
The Wildcats shot 59 percent, including 50 percent from beyond the arc. But it was their rebounding and defense that caught Head Coach Greg Clink's eye.
"I was really pleased with how we responded from Friday," Clink told Baca. "After we made a few early adjustments, our defense was really good. And our rebounding today really speaks to the mindset of this team."
The Wildcats outrebounded Cal State San Bernardino 39-20 and grabbed 13 offensive rebounds out of a possible 28 (missed field goals and free throws combined).
Cal State San Bernardino entered the game having taken nearly 50 percent of its shots from 3-point range and averaging better than 78 points per game. The Coyotes made five of their first 11 attempts from beyond the arc Sunday and trailed just 27–25 with five minutes to play in the first half. Then the Wildcats put the clamps down. While Cal State San Bernardino missed 11 of their next 13, many of them contested or from well behind the line, the Wildcats took control of the game.
Justin Briggs and Malik Duffy combined for 10 points during a 15–3 push over the final 4:46 of the first half.
Ellis intercepted passes and went coast-to-coast on three occasions on the way to a 12-point second half. Two of those came on consecutive possessions to cap a 9–0 run that stretched Chico State's lead to 20 with 11:39 to play.
The Wildcats grabbed their largest lead of the night, 73–47, on Nate Ambrosini's bucket with 7:08 to play.
Chico State, which has played at home just twice thus far, will play four of its next five at Acker Gym, beginning Saturday with a 7:30 p.m. showdown with San Francisco State.
