Its three straight wins are not the only proof that the Chico State men's basketball team is suddenly playing a much better brand of basketball. The Wildcats' defensive statistics and a quick comparison of their results in their first and second matchups again their past three opponents—Cal State San Bernardino, Cal Poly Pomona, and Humboldt State—provide further insight.
The Wildcats would like to see those trends continue this weekend when the take on Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State LA on the road. They'll take on the Toros Friday night and the Golden Eagles Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tip at 7:30, and will be broadcast locally on AM-1290 KPAY.
Links to streaming audio, streaming video, and live stats are available on the top-left corner of this advance, on the men's basketball schedule page, and in the calendar section on our homepage.
By winning its last three, Chico State has improved to 12-5 overall and 9-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings. They enter Thursday night's schedule in fourth place, a half-game behind Cal State San Marcos, a game behind UC San Diego, and two games behind first-place Cal Poly Pomona.
Over those past three games, the Wildcats have limited their opponents to 34-percent shooting, including 25-percent from 3-point range, and forced 13 turnovers per game. Prior to that stretch, they were allowing opponents to shoot 43-percent from the field, 40-percent from 3-point range, and forcing only 11 turnovers per contest.
Chico State has also lowered the number of 3-pointers opponents are making, a stat Head Coach Greg Clink is always keenly aware of. In the past three games, the Wildcats have allowed an average of only 4.7 made 3-pointers. Before that, the Wildcats were allowing seven per game.
Clink called for more effort following a three-game losing skid that preceded their three-game streak. And the Wildcats have clearly responded.
In their first meeting against Cal State San Bernardino, the Wildcats allowed a Cal State San Bernardino squad that relies heavily on the 3-point shot, to take seven more and make three more than they did in their most recent meeting.
They dropped their first meeting against Cal Poly Pomona in double-overtime. But the second time around, Chico State beat the Broncos 76–65.
They beat Humboldt State both times. However, the Wildcats surrendered 41 second-half points in the first win. Saturday night, they held the Lumberjacks to 36 in the game.
In allowing just 52.7 points per game in the last three, the Wildcats have risen to No. 8 in the nation and No. 2 in the CCAA in points allowed per game (63.7).
In this week's matchups, the Wildcats will face two teams suddenly desperate for wins. Cal State Dominguez Hills had the appearance of a team on the rise after knocking off UC San Diego and Chico State over the final 12 days of 2017. The Toros knocked down 14-of-20 triples to hand the Wildcats their lone home loss of the season, 81–63.
But they have lost their last four to fall to 8-13 overall and 5-9 in the CCAA. The Toros' CCAA Tournament hopes are suddenly hanging in the balance.
Cal State LA gave Chico State a bit of a scare before the Wildcats held on for a 76–66 win on Dec. 29. That was early in a stretch in which the Golden Eagles have lost nine of their last 10 and 13 of 15 following a 6-1 start. They enter Friday's game against Humboldt State 8-11 overall and 4-10 in the CCAA.
