Chico State men's basketball assistant coach Mark Darnall was asked earlier this week to give his key to beating Stanislaus State Saturday on the road.
 
"We have to defend," Darnall said. "If we get into them defensively we can beat them."
 
Darnall nailed it. So did Chico State's defense.
 
The Wildcats suffocated Stanislaus State—the same team that dropped 88 points in a win against Humboldt State Thursday—from the opening tip at Ed and Dorothy Fitzpatrick Arena in Turlock, limiting them to four points over the game's first 11-plus minutes and leading wire-to-wire for a 58-47 victory.
 
Marvin Timothy posted an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double in 23 minutes of action and Malik Duffy scored a game-high 16 points and pulled down eight rebounds as Chico State improved to 8-9 overall and 7-9 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association with its third straight victory. Timothy's 10 boards are his career high.
 
Chico State outrebounded Stanislaus State (10-12, 7-11) 42-28.
 
The Wildcats' win leapfrogged them over Stanislaus State into ninth place in the CCAA standings. They are just one back in the loss column to Cal State LA and two behind Cal State San Bernardino, Humboldt State, and Cal State Dominguez Hills as they attempt to climb into the top eight and grab a CCAA Tournament berth.

 

Chico State built a 19-4 edge early behind its defensive effort. Kevin Warren knocked down a couple of 3-pointers on the way to his eight points. Stanislaus State closed the gap to four before Nate Ambrosini knocked down a triple just before the halftime buzzer. Ambrosini finished with eight points, five rebounds, and three assists.
 
The Wildcats' defense started the second half strong as well, limiting the Warriors to just three made field goals over the first seven-plus minutes, while building a 40-25 advantage. Isaiah Brooks scored four points and dished out a pair of assists to lead the surge on the offensive end. Brooks finished with nine points, seven rebounds, and four assists.
 
Stanislaus State made one last push, closing the gap to 48-42 with 5:33 to play, before Calvin Geraci gave the Wildcats some breathing room with one of his two 3-pointers on the night.
 
The Wildcats closed it out the way they started, holding Stanislaus State scoreless over 4:50 until they finally broke the drought with just 12 seconds left.
 
Chico State has now held the Warriors to 53 and 47 points in their two meetings this season. The Warriors have averaged 74 points per game against the rest of their opponents.
 
The Wildcats will play four of their final six regular-season games at home beginning with big matchups against Cal State San Bernardino Thursday night and Cal Poly Pomona Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m.
 
HUNGRY WILDCAT FOOD PANTRY NIGHT
Saturday night's game is Wildcat Food Pantry Night and fans are encouraged to bring a donation—nutritious non-perishable food times, or cash—to donate.
 
All donations will support Chico State's Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry, dedicated to serving the University's food-insecure students.
 
The Pantry is currently in need of the following: canned protein (chicken, fish, canned back and refried beans, soups, chili stews); healthy snacks such as protein bars, nuts, and dried fruit; hygiene items (tampons, pads, liners, soaps, toothpaste, dental floss, tooth brushes, shampoos); and baby food and diapers of all sizes.
 
A recent Chico State student survey conducted by our Center for Healthy Communities indicated that 8,000 students (46 percent) suffer from low to very low food security. The USDA defines food insecurity as having problems or anxiety about consistently accessing adequate food, with impacts to the quality, variety, and desirability of a diet and the potential for disrupted eating patterns or reduced food intake. 

The Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry was established in 2013. Last academic year, the Pantry served more than 4,000 students, supporting an average of 100 students served per day, and distributed more than 35 tons of healthy food, which is the equivalent of 58,000 meals. The Pantry is a key component of the Chico State Basic Needs Project, which the Chico Cares Campaign supports.

The most efficient gift the Pantry can receive is your charitable contribution. Simply, your donated dollar goes farther than donated food purchased at a grocery store. Your financial support is used strategically to purchase the healthy food they need at below wholesale rates through their partners.

Thank you in advance for partnering with Chico State athletics to support the efforts of the Wildcat Food Pantry to keep students nourished and ready to do their best!
 
Thanks to the generosity of fans, faculty, staff, and student-athletes, Chico State's Department of Athletics has been a champion of the Wildcat Food Pantry since its inception in 2013. 
 
At last year's Wildcat Food Pantry Day, Chico State's incredible basketball fans donated 760 food items and hundreds of dollars in cash donations. Let's see if we can eclipse those numbers this year!

CHICO STATE GIVING DAY
Please consider giving Chico State athletics during our second annual Giving Day on February 14. Our goal is to reach 500 donors. Every gift, large or small, helps us get there! CLICK HERE TO GIVE or text chicoathletics to 71777.

Thank you for your amazing support.