CARSON—The defensive lapses were maddening. The offensive spurts were spectacular. The finish… well… phew! That is, if you are a Chico State men's basketball fan.
The Wildcats rallied from 13 points down, built an 11-point lead, saw host Cal State Dominguez Hills retake the lead, and then held the Toros to just one made field goal over the final 3:15 to win 86-81.
Kevin Warren scored a career-high 27 points, including four in a row during a 40-second stretch on consecutive possessions, to give Chico State a six-point lead with 27 seconds to play. But Isaiah Brooks was whistled for a foul on a three-point shot and the Toros made all three to make it a one-possession game. Colby Orr was fouled with 17 seconds left but missed both free throws and the Toros took two 3-pointers that could have tied the game, but neither drew iron. Orr grabbed the rebound on the second. He was fouled again, and this time, with five seconds left, made both to seal the win.
Brooks scored 20 points, including a 3-pointer and three-point play on consecutive possessions after a 15-4 Toros' run had given Cal State Dominguez Hills a 75-72 edge.
The Wildcats have now won five straight and nine of their last 10 to improve to 11-3 overall and remain percentage points behind conference leader UC San Diego in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings ahead of the Tritons' 8 p.m. home matchup with Cal State East Bay. Chico State has also won five in a row on the road.
Cal State Dominguez Hills dropped to 8-6 overall and 4-4 in the CCAA.
The Toros raced to an early 8-0 lead and built their advantage to 13 at 40-27 before the Wildcats got a spark off the bench from Joshua Curls. The sophomore guard scored six points in two-and-a-half minutes and then assisted on Calvin Geraci's buzzer-beating three before the half and the 'Cats went to the locker room trailing 46-38.
Spencer LaShells, who played much of the game in place of Chico State's injured leading scorer, Malik Duffy, scored seven points during a 14-7 push out of the break that gave Chico State its first lead.
Later in the half, a 15-4 Chico State run gave the Wildcats a 68-57 lead. They had outscored Cal State Dominguez Hills 41-17 since trailing 40-27.
But the Toros were not done, answering with a 10-0 run of their own before Brooks and Warren propelled the Wildcats to victory in the final minutes.
LaShells finished the game with 12 points and three steals.
Fifty eight fouls were called on the afternoon and Chico State knocked down 24 of 35 free throws. Brooks was 9-for-10 and Warren 7-for-8. The Toros went 19-of-26 from the line.
Chico State is back in action Thursday night at San Francisco State.
