LA JOLLA – How well do the members of the Chico State men's basketball team know their counterparts from UC San Diego, who they will play for the NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional title? It's a safe bet that a Wildcat could pick out any Triton from a pitch-black police lineup, simply by the smell of his breath.
The California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) rivals will meet for the fourth time this season Monday night at 7 at RIMAC Arena on the campus of UC San Diego. The losing team will draw its last breath of the season. The winning team earns a trip to the Elite Eight in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
How to Follow
LISTEN: The game will be broadcast in the Chico area on AM-1290 KPAY with Mike Baca providing the call beginning with the pregame show at 6:35.
LISTEN ONLINE HERE.
WATCH: The game will be broadcast, free of charge, on
UCSDTritons.TV.
FOLLOW: Track the game's progress via
LIVE STATS.
The Wildcats are playing for their second regional title and Elite Eight appearance. The first time was in 2014. The Tritons are playing in their second straight regional title game.
UC San Diego and Chico State took turns beating each other on their home floors during the regular season. The Tritons knocked the Wildcats out of the CCAA Tournament semifinals last weekend in San Marcos.
"Obviously we're very familiar with each other," said Chico State Head Coach Greg Clink. "But we're constantly trying to find different ways to gain an advantage. There are some things we're going to do a little differently than the last time. It's a constant chess match. Both teams put a lot of time into preparation and scouting."
But when the ball goes up, it comes down to the players.
"As coaches you try to prepare you team as much as possible," said Clink. "But it's going to come down to who defends the best, who rebounds the best, and who makes shots. It's going to come down to the players and who can make the most plays."
"If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine." – Obi-Wan Kenobi
Chico State and UC San Diego split their season series in 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2015-16. Neither team has won consecutive games against the other during the same season since 2011-12.
This season, UC San Diego beat the Wildcats 60–56 at RIMAC Arena in the Wildcats' conference opener. Chico State got some revenge when they met in Chico, winning 69–64 and briefly taking over sole possession of first place atop the conference standings. UC San Diego won the rubber match in the CCAA semifinals, 65–53.
The Tritons raced to a 27–11 lead in that game, and afterward, Chico State senior Robert Duncan was already game-planning during the postgame press conference in hopes that the Wildcats were chosen for the NCAA Tournament.
"We can't get on our heels and let anyone punch us in the mouth," said Duncan. "We have to come out throwing blows instead of taking them."
The Wildcats have done just that in their first two NCAA Tournament games. They took a 47–36 halftime lead over GNAC regular-season and tournament champion Western Washington in the opening round, and then led PacWest regular-season and tournament champion Hawai'i Pacific 39–30 at the break in Saturday's regional semifinal.
The No. 6 seeded Wildcats (25-7) will try to take down their third straight conference champion Monday. The CCAA's regular-season and tournament champion, UC San Diego is the region's No. 1 seed. The Tritons (27-5) had little trouble in their opening-round 84–68 win against Dixie State. Saturday, they held off California Baptist to win 84–80.
"We have a ton of respect for UC San Diego," said Clink. "They are a very talented, disciplined, and well-coached team."
Now it all comes down to Monday night. Whatever the result, it is likely that the players and coaches will respectfully extend well wishes to their counterparts following the final horn. Maybe even a stick of gum.
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. – #6 Chico State 77, #2 Hawai'i Pacific 74
7:30 p.m. – #1 UC San Diego 84, #4 California Baptist 80
Monday, March 13
7:00 p.m. – #6 Chico State (25-7) vs. #1 UC San Diego (27-5)
Winner advances to the…
NCAA Division II Championship Elite Eight
March 22-25 – Sioux Falls, S.D.
PRE-GAME NOTES
A Chico State victory would give the team the most wins in the history of the program (26)…The Wildcats are shooting a sweltering 50 percent from 3-point range in the NCAA Tournament (25-for-50)…Nate Ambrosini is 4-for-4, Isaiah Ellis 4-6, Michael Bethea, Jr. 4-for-7, and Jalen McFerren 7-for-15…The Wildcats are 20-0 this season when at least three of their core-four players that have completed more than two seasons on the team score nine or more points…The Wildcats are 20-0 this season when scoring at least 70 points this season, and 24-1 when scoring at least 60…Duncan needs one more 3-pointer to become the 16
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