SEASIDE—Unhappy with his team's effort at practice Wednesday, Chico State men's basketball coach Greg Clink warned his Wildcats it could cost them dearly. What Clink feared came to pass Thursday night at Cal State Monterey Bay.
 
The host Otters snapped a 32-game losing streak at the expense of the Wildcats with an 81-74 victory at The Kelp Bed.
 
The Wildcats, now 5-7 overall and 4-7 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), have lost four of five since a thrilling win at Cal Poly Pomona. Its once-vaunted defense has allowed 80-plus points in three of those four losses.
 
Cal State Monterey Bay used a 17-3 first-half run to build a 27-13 lead, and never trailed after that.
 
Chico State twice made it a one-possession game. But both times the Otters responded with aplomb.
 
After an Isaiah Brooks layup with 18:07 to play capped an 8-0 run (started by Nate Ambrosini's 3-pointers to end the first half and start the second) early in the second half, Cal State Monterey Bay used an 8-2 push to re-assert control.
 
Ambrosini's fourth 3-ball of the night with 10:40 remaining closed the gap to 57-54. But the Otters responded by hitting four straight triples, the last three by Keon Sapwell, to build the lead back to 13, and led by seven or more from that point forward.
 
Ambrosini led the Wildcats with 16 points and Kevin Warren chipped in 15 in his return to Seaside where he played as a freshman two seasons ago. Justin Briggs brought down a season-high 14 rebounds to go along with 11 points. Brooks scored all 11 of his points after intermission while notching six assists and a career-high four steals.
 
The Wildcats are at Cal State East Bay Saturday afternoon at 3. Mike Baca will be courtside to provide the play-by-play, broadcast locally on Newstalk 1290-AM and 102.9 FM KPAY, and simulcast on the Internet via www.chicowildcats.com. Links to live stats and live streaming video will also be available online.