It's called the bell lap in the world of track and field. As runners reach the start/finish line for the final 400 meters of a race, the bell rings incessently and the excitement intensifies to a fever pitch.
 
The figurative bell will be ringing this week in Acker Gym as the Chico State men's basketball team begins its final circuit through the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) on its quest to win the race and a fourth conference title in the last nine years.
 
Thursday night's 7:30 showdown against Cal State Dominguez Hills will mark the midway point of the Wildcats' 22-game conference schedule. They'll start the second half of their conference slate Saturday night at home against Cal State LA. That contest is also scheduled to tip at 7:30.
 
Both games will be broadcast locally on FM 93.9 KPAY. Links to streaming audio, streaming video and live stats are all available at www.chicowildcats.com.
 
Chico State, which rose six spots to No. 19 in this week's NABC Division II Coaches Poll, is 13-3 overall and in second place in the CCAA at 8-2, behind only NABC No. 5 UC San Diego (11-1 in the CCAA).
 
The Wildcats have won seven in a row, just three shy of the longest winning streak in the Greg Clink era. Two of those wins came on the road at Cal State LA and Cal State Dominguez Hills less than three weeks ago. But, neither win came easily.
 
In a 69-66 win at Cal State LA, Malik Duffy's jumper snapped a 66-all deadlock with 67 seconds to play. Justin Briggs led the way for the Wildcats with a 19-point, 13-rebound double-double. The big man hit 8-of-10 shots and led the way to a 42-24 advantage on the glass.
 
Two nights later at Cal State Dominguez Hills, the Wildcats rallied from a 13-point deficit to win 86-81. Kevin Warren paced Chico State with a career-best 27 points and Isaiah Brooks chipped in 20.
 
The games marked the start of four-game losing skids for Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State LA. Both snapped those skids Saturday night. The Toros turned it around with an impressive 88-64 win at home Saturday against Stanislaus State and enter Thursday night's game 9-9 overall and 5-7 in the CCAA. Cal State LA outscored Humboldt State 81-74 Saturday night and enters Saturday's game in Chico 10-8 overall and 5-7 in the CCAA.
 
Much of the Wildcats' success this season stems from their dominance on the perimeter. Chico State leads the CCAA in 3-point percentage (.418) and 3-point field-goal percentage defense (.306). The Wildcats rank 8^th and 17^th in the nation, respectively. As a result, the Wildcats have outscored their opponents by an average of 10.1 points per game from beyond the arc. They've been even better at home, having outscored their eight opponents by an average of 14.6 points per game from beyond the arc. The Wildcats are 82-for-200 (.410) from three-point range at home, and their opponents are only 43-of-147 (.293).
 
Five different Wildcats are averaging at least one made three per game, while seven different players are knocking them down at a 41-percent-plus clip.