San Francisco State boasts one of the West Coast's most formidable offenses. Chico State's defense was better Saturday night.
The Wildcats held the Gators more than 27 points below their season scoring average in a 62–56 victory Saturday night at Acker Gym. Chico State kept the California Collegiate Athletic Association's second-leading scorer, Evan Zeller, scoreless for the game's first 31 minutes. He came in averaging better than 17 points per game, but finished with six. The Gators' Chiefy Ugbaja entered the contest second in the CCAA in shooting percentage at 61 percent, but misfired on nine of 12 shots in the face of the Wildcats' strong perimeter defense and big bodies in the paint.
Isaiah Ellis finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds,
and five assists Saturday while becoming just
the fifth player in program history to eclipse
career totals of 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.
San Francisco State showed off a strong defense as well and grabbed a 53–52 lead on Warren Jackson's bucket with 3-pointer with 4:54 to play. But the Gators scored just once more.
Briggs hit two free throws to give Chico State the lead back with 4:34 left, and Jalen McFerren's 3-pointer with 1:42 to play proved to be the make of the night. McFerren added three free throws in the final minute to cap the decisive 8-0 run that put the game away.
McFerren finished with a game-high 20 points on 5-of-8 shooting from 3-point land and 5-of-6 from the stripe. He also pulled down eight rebounds and dished out three assists, while committing just one turnover in 33 minutes.
Isaiah Ellis had 10 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, a block, and two steals. His seventh rebound of the night was the 500
th of his career. He's the 13
th Wildcat to reach 500 career rebounds and just the fifth with career totals eclipsing 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.
Chico State, 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the CCAA, has now won 29 of its last 31 conference games played at Acker Gym. Four of those wins have come against San Francisco State, which they've now beaten in seven straight meetings at home.
San Francisco State slipped to 6-4 overall and 3-2 in the CCAA following a battle for second place in the CCAA standings. Cal Poly Pomona leads the way at 3-0.
Briggs chipped in nine points, six rebounds, and three blocks for the Wildcats. Nate Ambrosini and Corey Silverstrom scored seven points apiece.
The Wildcats will travel to take on Cal State East Bay next Saturday night in Hayward before wrapping up 2017 with a non-conference home game against Simpson on Dec. 19 and conference games against Cal State L.A. on Dec. 29 and Cal State Dominguez Hills Dec. 31.
Jalen McFerren hit 5-of-8 three-pointers on the way to a game-high 20 points.
