Cal State East Bay was running out of time. The Pioneers trailed by double-digits and needed some scores in quick succession to get back into Saturday night's game at Chico State. The game's final media timeout afforded the Pioneers time to draw up a quick-hitter in hopes of igniting a rally.
They inbounded the ball and searched for an opening in the Chico State defense. And searched. And searched. And searched. Finally, with the shot clock all the way down to :01, they turned it over.
The possession was over. And so was the game.
Chico State's defense held Cal State East Bay to a season-low 15 first-half points and a its lowest game output since Dec. 31, 2016, in a 59-45 victory Saturday night at Acker Gym.
The Wildcats handed Cal State East Bay its first California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) loss by limiting the Pioneers to just one made 3-pointer and 33-percent shooting while outrebounding their guests 35-27.
Calvin Geraci drives into the paint.
Chico State improved to 2-2 on the season, and in conference play, with its second blowout win in three days. Cal State East Bay, which entered the game in first place, slipped to 8-2 overall and 4-1 in the CCAA.
Kevin Warren led the Wildcats' offense with 13 points and contributed on the defensive end by tying his collegiate high with a pair of blocked shots. Malik Duffy chipped in eight points and eight rebounds. Point guard Isaiah Brooks completed a turnover-free homestand with nine points and two assists in a career-high 32 minutes of work. Nate Ambrosini pitched in eight points. And Marvin Timothy took advantage of his 11 minutes on the floor with seven points, four rebounds, and two steals.
Chico State led wire-to-wire for the second time in three days. The Wildcats scored the game's first 12 points, and later in the half, buckets in the paint by Timothy, Spencer LaShells, and Josh Lavergne keyed a 6-0 run that built the lead to 17.
Chico State went to the break up 30-15, and out of the break, scored the first two baskets of the second half—a Brooks jumper and Duffy 3-pointer—to build their bulge to 20.
The Pioneers trimmed the lead to eight with a 14-2 push before Chico State pushed back.
Geraci railed a triple to start an 8-0 run, Warren sank a trio of free throws, and then assisted on Timothy's fast-break bucket. Nate Ambrosini set the play in motion with a blocked shot.
Just like that the Wildcats were back up 45-29, and the lead never dropped into single digits again.
Chico State will play its next five games on the road, beginning next Saturday at rival Humboldt State. They will be back in Chico, where they will play nine of their last 14 regular-season games, on Jan. 10, against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
