LA JOLLA – The Chico State men's basketball team faced three giants in the last four days. They slayed them all. Now the Wildcats are NCAA Championship Tournament West Region Champions and bound for the Elite Eight in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Chico State's 95–86 victory over top-seeded UC San Diego Monday night at RIMAC Arena, home of the Tritons, was its third straight NCAA Tournament victory over a higher seed and third straight against the West Region's three regular-season and conference tournament champions.
The sixth-seeded Wildcats' first-round opponent, Western Washington, was the region's No. 3 seed and the regular-season and conference tournament champion in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Their second-round opponent, Hawai'i Pacific, was the region's No. 2 seed and the PacWest's regular-season and conference tournament champion. UC San Diego won the CCAA's regular season title, beating Chico State along the way, and beat the Wildcats again in the CCAA Tournament semifinals 10 days ago, on the way to that title.
To be fair, Chico State is a Goliath as well. The Wildcats boast the longest streak of NCAA Championship Tournament appearances in the West Region at six, and they have now won two West Region titles in the past four seasons. They were just disguised in David's clothing late in the season while losing four of their final 10 regular-season games and the CCAA Tournament semifinal.
The Wildcats came back from their CCAA Tournament loss to the Tritons more powerfully than anyone could have possibly imagined. In the last four days, they played what were likely their three best games of the season. And Monday night's performance topped them all.
"I credit these guys and their level of competitiveness," said Chico State Head Coach Greg Clink. "I really think that's what it is. Their level of competitiveness is as good as any I've been around. Their toughness is remarkable. We lost in the first round each of the past two seasons, and that left a bitter taste in our mouths. To a man they all agreed that we weren't coming here to be a participant. We came here to win."
Isaiah Ellis' 34 points are the most by a Wildcat since November of 2008.
Paced by legendary performances from Isaiah Ellis and Corey Silverstrom, they followed through on that commitment. Ellis scored a career high 34 points–the most by a Wildcat since 2008–and matched his career high with 14 rebounds.
"I thought (Isaiah's) aggression level was phenomenal tonight," said Clink. "I stopped practice one time last week and told him in front of everyone that we've got enough guys that will pass it. When you catch the ball 1-on-1 in the post we need you to score. That's what he did tonight. He gave one of the best performances I've ever seen someone in a Chico State uniform have."
Silverstrom scored 19 of his 21 points in the final 10 minutes just when the Wildcats needed him most. He tacked on five assists, five rebounds, and two steals.
"(Corey's) play in the last 10 minutes of the game was phenomenal," said Clink. "He put us on his shoulders and carried us at times."
Jalen McFerren chipped in 13 points, all in the second half. Justin Briggs scored 10 on 5-of-6 shooting. Robert Duncan had eight points and three steals. And Marvin Timothy made a big impact in his 11 minutes, scoring six points, grabbing two rebounds, blocking a shot, and energizing the Wildcats with a vicious follow dunk.
Ellis, Timothy, and Briggs set the tone early for the Wildcats. They were clearly committed to getting the ball inside, and that trio rewarded them by scoring the team's first 15 points. Ellis had 11 and Timothy his powerful follow flush.
Corey Silverstrom (right) scored 18 points in
the game's final 9:56.
With 7:11 to play in the first half, Chico State had nine offensive rebounds and had turned those into 15 points en route to a 27–23 lead. Ellis scored the Wildcats' last six points of the half and went to the break with 19 of their 37. But the lead was only three because UC San Diego had made 6-of-11 3-point attempts.
The break did not slow Ellis' roll. He scored 12 of the Wildcats' first 14 second-half points in just over five-and-a-half minutes. Chico State's lead was 51–46, but Ellis needed a breather. When he took it, the Tritons took control.
Ellis went to the bench with 13:26 remaining and the Wildcats leading by two. Just 67 second of playing time elapsed while he was resting, but by then, the Tritons led 54–51. Christian Oshida's 3-pointer moments after Ellis' return to the floor capped an 11–0 UC San Diego run. Suddenly the Tritons had their biggest lead of the night.
The Wildcats needed someone else to help carry the scoring load. Enter Silverstrom. He scored on a drive with 9:56 to play, cutting the Wildcats' deficit to one. It was a sign of things to come.
The junior scored 19 of the Wildcats' 39 points over the final 10 minutes, spurring the offense to a level that UC San Diego simply could not match. Twice he hit 3-pointers that put Chico State in the lead. He also made two free throws to break a 69-all tie with 5:22 to play and two more to push the Wildcats' advantage to five with 2:46 to go. But UC San Diego made one last big push.
The Tritons scored four quick points to cut the lead to 78–77 just 40 seconds later. That's when Silverstrom sank what is probably the biggest and bravest shot of his life. He let a 25-foot 3-pointer fly despite a defender's hand in his face.
Curtains!
It was the beginning of the end for UC San Diego.
"When I got the ball I just had this feeling that I wanted to let it go," said Silverstrom. "I didn't think about how far it was. I just knew the time, the score, and how big the shot was. I wanted the moment so I went for it."
It wasn't a shot that Clink would normally approve of. At least until it went in. The coach preaches 'A' shots. It is a mantra he often yells from the bench.
When asked if Silverstrom's dagger fit the bill, he answered with a laugh.
"No. But sometimes 'C' shots go in. It's one of those where as a coach you look at it like no, no, no… Yes!" said Clink. "He's made big plays and he's got so much confidence in himself. Every time he lets the ball fly I think it's going in. Not an 'A' shot, no. But we'll take it."
Robert Duncan is now the only Chico State player to have been a part
of two West Regional titles.
Silverstrom grabbed a rebound and was fouled following the Tritons' next possession. He made both to extend the lead to six. They were the first two in a stretch of 14 straight that Silverstrom and McFerren made to close out the game.
Ellis was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Silverstrom was also named to the All-Tournament Team, along with UC San Diego's Adam Klie and Aleks Lipovic, and California Baptist's Michael Smith.
Ellis led the tournament in total points and rebounds, averaging 21 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
The Wildcats improved to 26-7, setting a new program record for wins in a season in the process. They also bought two more weeks together.
"This has been such an enjoyable year for me personally just being around this team with their personalities, the way they treat each other, and the way they conduct themselves," said Clink. "So to see them get rewarded with a West Region Championship and get to spend at least another couple weeks together really excites me."
The Elite Eight bracket will be revealed Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
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 95, #1 UC San Diego 86
Chico State (26-7) advances to the…
NCAA Division II Championship Elite Eight
March 22-25 – Sioux Falls, S.D.
GAME NOTES
The Wildcats are now 21-0 this season when at least three of their core-four players–those who have completed more than two seasons on the team (Duncan, Ellis, Silverstrom, and McFerren)–score nine or more points…The Wildcats are 21-0 this season when scoring at least 70 points…Chico State and UC San Diego have now split their season series in each of the past five campaigns.
Head Coach Greg Clink and Jalen McFerren embrace following the win. McFerren relayed the story of holding
the Wildcats' 2014 Regional Championship Trophy during his recruiting visit to Chico State and expressing a
desire to help get another one. He did just that this season. (All photos by Andy Wilhem)
