POMONA—Despite its youthful roster, the Chico State men's basketball team will head into 2019 in the same boat as its been over the past seven seasons—among the teams to beat in the West Region. The Wildcats knocked off 8^th-ranked Cal Poly Pomona 70-66 in Pomona Saturday night for their second consecutive road victory and fourth win in their last five games despite an active roster featuring just two seniors and one junior.
 
The Wildcats led by as many as 13 early in the second half before the Broncos knotted the score at 66 with 45 seconds to play. Nate Ambrosini broke the deadlock with a jumper with 16 seconds remaining, giving Chico State the lead for good. Ambrosini, on the right wing, took a pass from Malik Duffy from the top of the arc. Ambrosini used a lift fake to clear his defender, dribbled once to just inside the arc, and railed the go-ahead bucket. 
 
Cal Poly Pomona had two chances to either tie the game or take the lead. William Christmas' driving attempt with 13 seconds remaining rimmed out and Isaiah Brooks grabbed the rebound. However, a Wildcats turnover with six seconds to play gave the Broncos another shot. 

 

Jordan Ogundrian's long 3-point try was an air ball deflected out of bounds by the Broncos, and Brooks made two free throws with 0.6 seconds remaining to seal the victory.
 
Chico State improved to 4-3 overall and 3-3 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Cal Poly Pomona fell to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the CCAA.
 
Chico State has now beaten the Broncos two times in a row after losing five straight in the series.
 
Duffy finished with 17 points and eight rebounds to pace the Wildcats. Brooks chipped in 13 points and a game-high five assists. Ambrosini added 12 points and Kevin Warren 10. 
 
The Wildcats, who entered the game ranked No. 3 in the nation in scoring defense, walked away feeling great about their offensive effort Saturday.  Cal Poly Pomona started the game boasting the top field-goal percentage defense in the nation (35.7 percent), and ranked fourth in blocked shots per game (5.8), ninth in 3-point field-goal percentage defense (28.5 percent), and 11^thin scoring defense (63.2 points per game).
 
Chico State sank 11-of-30 from 3-point range and shot 48 percent (25-of-52) from the field to key the win.
 
Its defense wasn't too shabby either. 
 
Justin Briggs blocked more shots (four) than the entire Broncos' team. And the Wildcats held Cal Poly Pomona to just 3-of-13 shooting from beyond the arc, improving on their 3-point field goal percentage defense, which was already ranked fifth in the nation at 27.4 percent allowed. 
 
Chico State led for most of the night. Cal Poly Pomona led four times, but never by more than two points, and never in the second half. 
 
The Broncos last led 24-23 before Duffy railed a 3-pointer, two free throws, and another triple, spurring a 10-0 push. 
 
The lead was 33-29 at the half before Brooks, Ambrosini, and Warren combined for a trifecta of triples coming out of the break to build the lead to 13.
 
Cal Poly Pomona cut into the lead on numerous occasions, but could not get over the top. A Marvin Timothy tip-in stopped one run and a Timothy three-point play quelled another. 

 
A Briggs put-back and Brooks 3-pointer kept the Broncos at bey with less than five minutes to play. But that seven-point lead slowly evaporated and eventually vanished with a Christmas free throw with 45 seconds remaining, setting up the late-game heroics of Ambrosini and Brooks. 
 
The Wildcats' early schedule has been challenging, to say the least. Of their seven games, five have come on the road. Their seven opponents have a combined record of 49-26 and a combined conference record of 25-15.
 
The challenge continues. After a quick trip back home, the Wildcats will head back to Southern California for games at Cal State San Bernardino (Thursday) and Cal State San Marcos (next Saturday). 
 
After that, they will be home for nine of their final 14 regular-season games.