LA JOLLA – Statistically speaking, Western Washington had the best offense in the West Region this season. But Chico State's offense was the best one on the floor Friday in its 96–83 victory over the 12^th-ranked Vikings in the opening game of the 2016-17 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship Tournament.
 
Isaiah Ellis finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Wildcats, who featured eight players with at least eight points. Jalen McFerren had 16 points, Marvin Timothy a career-high 12, Michael Bethea, Jr. and Nate Ambrosini 11 apiece off the bench, Corey Silverstrom and Robert Duncan nine each, and Justin Briggs chipped in eight points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench.
 
The Wildcats, seeded No. 6 in the region, will try to keep rolling Saturday night when they face No. 2 seed Hawai'i Pacific at 5 p.m. with a spot in the Sweet 16 and West Regional title game on the line at RIMAC Arena on the campus of UC San Diego.
 
"We just beat a great team," said Chico State Head Coach Greg Clink, who has the Wildcats playing in their West Region-best sixth straight NCAA Tournament. "Today we played probably our best offensive basketball of the season. I'm not only excited about the win, but I'm excited we're playing really well."
 
In some respects, the Wildcats' offense was the best defense on the floor as well. They took good care of the ball, turning it over just 11 times, and moved the ball beautifully, getting good looks at the basket on nearly every trip. And those good looks tended to fall. The Wildcats shot 50 percent from 3-point range (13-of-26).
 

That kept the high-flying Vikings, who averaged better than 88 points per game this season, from getting into their regular offensive flow. The Wildcats held Vikings leading scorer Taylor Stafford without a made 3-pointer for just the second time this season, and the Vikings team to just six-of-24 from beyond the arc–a season-low 25 percent. Stafford made 78 3s on the year and the Vikings made 276.
 
"We typically don't give up in the 80s but I thought our offense really helped our defense," said Clink. "We took good shots for the most part, which allowed us to get back and set up our defense. You don't often look down at the stat sheet and say that you played good defense when you give up 83 points but the (shooting) percentages speak for themselves. I thought our defense was phenomenal."
 
Chico State improved to 24-7, while Western Washington's season ended at 25-6.
 
The Wildcats trailed 28–22 early as Western Washington knocked down five straight 3-pointers–most of them despite strong defense–to surge ahead. They missed 17 of 18 after that.
 
Timothy kept the Wildcats afloat on both ends of the floor. He scored the Wildcats' first two baskets and blocked two shots in the game's opening minutes.
 
"I always try to start the game with high energy. Like coach says, 'foaming at the mouth'," said Timothy.
 
Along with his 12 points, Timothy matched his career high with two blocks and finished just one rebound shy of his career high with seven.
 
"I thought Marvin really set the tone defensively," said Clink. "And obviously his offensive stats speak for themselves."
 
Ellis fueled the run that turned the tide in Chico State's favor by hitting four straight 3s, scoring 13 points, and posting a pair of assists in the final 7:37 of the half. Fittingly, it was Timothy's two-handed follow rip that gave them the lead for good. Chico State went to the locker room on a 25–8 run to take a 47–36 lead.
 
"I probably should have been running more plays for Isaiah all season long," quipped Clink.
 
Ellis simply took the shots when they came.
 
"I pride myself on the way I play on the defensive end of the floor," said Ellis. "I just let the offense come to me."
 
The Wildcats methodically added to their lead throughout the early stages of the second half, and Nate Ambrosini's third 3-pointer put them up 65–49 with 12:33 remaining.
 
Western Washington closed the gap to nine on a pair of occasions, but a Silverstrom 3 and a reverse layup from McFerren stopped the bleeding.
 
McFerren, Silverstrom, and Briggs combined to make eight straight free throws in the final 1:13 to seal the win.
 
GAME NOTES
The Wildcats' 24 wins are the fourth most in program history. Three teams share the school record with 25…This marks the Wildcats' fourth first-round NCAA Tournament victory…Briggs' blocked shot Friday was his 62^nd of the season, tying Richard Ross (1985-86) for the program's single-season record…Ellis is averaging 19.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in the postseason…Duncan did his former teammate Damario Sims dirty on Friday, moving ahead of him on the school's career scoring (He now has 1,200 points. He's the 9^th Wildcats to reach that milestone.) and assists lists (He led all players with six Friday and now has 277–7^th in school history.).
 
NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional Schedule
La Jolla, Calif. – RIMAC Arena
Friday, March 10
12:00 p.m. – #6 Chico State 96, vs. #3 Western Washington 83
2:30 p.m. – #2 Hawai'i Pacific 73, #7 Sonoma State 61
5:00 p.m. – #4 California Baptist 71, #5 San Francisco State 50
7:30 p.m. – #1 UC San Diego 94, #8 Dixie State 68
Saturday, March 11
5:00 p.m. – Chico State (24-7) vs. Hawai'i Pacific (29-2)
7:30 p.m. – California Baptist (26-4) vs. UC San Diego (26-5)
Monday, March 13
7:00 p.m. – Championship Game
 
Winner advances to the…
NCAA Division II Championship Elite Eight
March 22-25 – Sioux Falls, S.D.
 
About Hawai'i Pacific
The Sharks are ranked No. 4 in the nation, seeded No. 2 in the West, and improved to 29-2 with Friday's win. They won the PacWest regular season and conference titles.