This time the Chico State men's basketball team's second-half rally came up just short. The 18^th-ranked Wildcats, who have come from behind in the closing minutes four times this season, cut a 13-point deficit to two, but could not get over the hump in a 65-63 loss at Cal State East Bay Thursday night.
 
The loss ended Chico State's nine-game winning streak and wrecked its chance to tie the school's record for consecutive road wins at seven. The Wildcats fell to 15-4 overall and 10-3 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). They also slipped into third place, in the CCAA standings, percentage points behind Cal State San Bernardino.
 
The Wildcats missed 20 of 35 free throws, including 4 of 8 in the final 1:20. Those misses impeded their effort to rally from that 13-point shortfall with 12:30 to play.
 
Colby Orr made one of two from the line to make it a four point game with 1:20 remaining. Justin Briggs made one of two to make it a three point game with 40 seconds left. Calvin Geraci cut the lead to four by making 1-of-2 with 11 seconds left. And Isaiah Brooks made the first and missed the second on purpose with four seconds remaining to make it a two-point game. Cal State East Bay grabbed the defensive rebound and ran out the clock.
 
Briggs finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, moving past Mike Harski into fifth on the school's career rebounds list in the process. But the big man struggled mightily from the line, missing 10 of 14 attempts. He was not the only one to struggle, however. In fact, Orr was the only Wildcat who made more than half of his attempts from the stripe (3-of-4).
 
Geraci was the only other Wildcat in double figures, finishing with 17 points.
 
Chico State trailed by as many as 14 in the first half and by 13 at the break. The Wildcats would need to mount a comeback similar to the one they pulled off at home against the Pioneers (12-9, 8-7) in late November if they were to keep their winning streak alive. Chico State closed that game with a 22-5 run over the final 6:11 to win 81-71.
 
The Wildcats, who still trailed 47-34 with 12:30 to play, nearly did it again.
 
Briggs scored five points during a 10-2 push that helped the Wildcats close the gap to 49-44 with 7:47 remaining.
 
Briggs' dunk with 3:53 left pulled the Wildcats within three, before the Pioneers buried 3-pointers on each of their next two possessions to keep the 'Cats at bay.
 
Still, Chico State remained within striking distance and face a five point deficit when Orr went to the line with 1:20 remaining. The Wildcats just couldn't quite get over the hump.
 
Chico State will attempt to get back to its winning ways Saturday in a 3 p.m. matinee at Cal State Monterey Bay. The Wildcats will be back home next weekend to face 4^th-ranked UC San Diego Thursday night and Cal State San Marcos Saturday night. Both games are scheduled to tip at 7:30 p.m.