The Chico State men's basketball team's core four ensured that the Wildcats will play at least one more game. And probably more.
 
Senior Robert Duncan and juniors Jalen McFerren, Corey Silverstrom, and Isaiah Ellis–the four players that have been a part of the program for at least three years–combined for 69 points in the Wildcats' 75–72 victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills in the opening round of the California Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Basketball Tournament.  

The four took turns spurring the Wildcats on. And they needed every kick against a Cal State Dominguez Hills team desperate to keep its season alive and playing its best basketball of the season.
 
Silverstrom scored a game-high 21 points on his best shooting night in over a month. Ellis had 18 points, seven rebounds, and two blocked shots. Duncan finished with 15 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals. McFerren chipped in 15 points, railing 3-of-4 from 3-point range.

 

The Toros actually had two shots at a game-tying 3-pointer in the final five seconds, but both shots were rushed and neither threatened to go down.
 
The Wildcats led by a point when Ellis pulled down a monumental offensive rebound with 14 seconds left and kicked it out to McFerren, who was fouled. The Wildcats' career leader in free throw percentage made both free throws with 10 seconds to play, forcing the Toros to try the desperation 3-pointers.
 
Chico State, now 23–6, advances to face regular-season conference champion UC San Diego in the tournament semifinals Friday at 5:35 p.m.
 
Chico State scuffled a bit out of the gates Tuesday before Duncan took it upon himself to get the Wildcats in gear. Duncan scored nine points, dropped three dimes, and grabbed three rebounds and two steals over the final 10:17 of the opening half, and Chico State went into the locker room up 36–31.
 
But Cal State Dominguez Hills jumped back into the lead early in the second half. That's when Silverstrom took the reins. He scored 12 straight Chico State points during a 14–5 push that put the Wildcats ahead for good.
 
Ellis scored two straight buckets inside to stretch the lead to nine, and McFerren hit a pull-up jumper at the 10:03 mark to make it an 11-point game.
 
But the Toros roared back again. They hit 3-pointers on each of their next four possessions to trim the lead to 61–60.
 
Duncan answered with a reverse layup, assisted by Silverstrom, and then knocked the ball away and Bethea pounced on it and went coast-to-coast for the deuce.
 
The lead was back down to one with just over three minutes to go before Silverstrom fed Duncan for another basket in the paint, Ellis blocked a shot on the other end, and Duncan fed Bethea, who fed Silverstrom streaking toward the bucket, for a layup and five-point lead.

 

Chico State's lead was two with just over two minutes to play when the Toros grabbed a long rebound and broke out for a 2-on-1. With a tie game in the offing, McFerren took a courageous offensive charge. The Wildcats kept the lead.
 
Duncan made two free throws to stretch the lead back to five with 1:15 left, but the Toros scored on their next two possessions to get it back down to one. Ellis secured the biggest rebound of the season on Chico State's next trip, however, and the Wildcats held on.
 
With the win, the Wildcats took another huge step toward securing their sixth straight berth in the NCAA Championship Tournament. They are ranked No. 5 in the latest NCAA West Region rankings. Eight teams from the West will be chosen for the NCAA Tournament field.
 
Tuesday marked the fifth time in the past seven seasons that these teams have met in the opening round of the CCAA Tournament. Cal State Dominguez Hills won the first meeting in 2011 in Carson, 75–59. Chico State has now beaten the Toros three times in a row since: 52–45 in 2012; 80–78 in 2013; and now 75–72 in 2017.
 
This marks the seventh time the Wildcats have won 23 games in the program's 102 seasons. Chico State won 25 games in 1983-84, 2011-12, and 2013-14. The Wildcats won 23 in 1940-41, 1975-76, and 1992-93.
 
Friday night's game will be broadcast on AM-1290 KPAY. It will also be streamed online at www.chicowildcats.com, where links to live stats are also available. Fans can find those links in the calendar section on the homepage and on the men's basketball schedule page. 
 
2017 CCAA Tournament
Quarterfinals: Tuesday, Feb. 28 – higher seed hosts
No. 1 UC San Diego 78, No. 8 Humboldt State 72
No. 2 San Francisco State 93, No. 7 Cal State L.A. 67
No. 3 Sonoma State 63, No. 6 Cal Poly Pomona 56
No. 4 Chico State 75, No. 5 Cal State Dominguez Hills 72
 
Semifinals: Friday, March 3 – The Sports Center in San Marcos, Calif.
UC San Diego vs. Chico State, 5:35 p.m.
San Francisco State vs. Sonoma State, 8:05 p.m.
 
Championship: Saturday, March 4 – The Sports Center in San Marcos, Calif.
UC San Diego/Chico State winner vs. San Francisco State/Sonoma State winner, 7:35 p.m.