The Chico State men's basketball team impeded the high-powered Cal State San Marcos all night long, limiting the Cougars to a season-low in scoring.
The Wildcats needed one more stop with seven seconds to play to get perhaps their gutsiest win of the season. Then Ethan Alvano ripped their hearts out. The Cougars' point guard went around a screen and took an off-balanced 3-pointer from the left
Justin Briggs had eight points and seven
rebounds, and become just the fourth player
in school history to reach 50 blocks in a season.
wing, fading to his left, and hit nothing but the bottom of the net with the game-winner.
Michael Bethea, Jr. nearly answered from 35 feet out at the buzzer, but the ball bounced off the front of the rim in a 59–58 loss.
Jalen McFerren scored 18 points and grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds to lead the Wildcats. He hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 14 seconds left, giving Chico State its only lead of the second half.
The Wildcats fell to 18-6 overall and 11-5 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with their third straight loss and first this season at home. That snapped a program-record 12-0 home start for the Wildcats.
Alvano finished with 21 points to lead the Cougars, who improved to 16-8 overall and 10-6 in the CCAA.
McFerren made a career-high six-of-nine 3s Saturday, pushing him over the century mark for his career. He's the 15
th Wildcat to eclipse 100 triples. His 14 rebounds matched the most by any Wildcat this season.
Robert Duncan finished with 11 points, six rebounds, and five assists for the Wildcats. Justin Briggs had eight points, seven rebounds, and a pair of blocks off the bench. Bethea finished with eight points and five rebounds.
Briggs' second block was his 50
th of the season. He's just the fourth Wildcat to reach that milestone, and the first freshman.
The Wildcats will attempt to get back on track next week when they play a home-and-away against Stanislaus State. They play in Turlock Thursday and in Chico on Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tipoff at 7:30. Saturday night the Wildcats will celebrate Senior Night. Duncan and Bethea will be honored prior to opening tip.
Jalen McFerren hit six 3-pointers and pulled down 14 rebounds Saturday night – both career highs.
(Photos by Jessica Bartlett - University Photography Assistant)
