Since Greg Clink took over the reins of the Chico State men's basketball program, his 12-year tenure has been jam-packed with unforgettable moments and lofty achievements. Seven seasons of 20 or more wins; 10 postseason appearances; seven NCAA Tournament berths; three California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) titles and two NCAA West Region crowns are just a few examples of what the Wildcats have accomplished under Clink's watch. But among all the single-game successes over the past dozen years, none was more electrifying than the 'Cats' 83-82 win over Cal State San Marcos on December 12, 2015, when over 1,100 fans at Acker Gym witnessed "The McFerren Miracle."
 
It was on that night that sophomore guard Jalen McFerren swished a desperation half court shot at the buzzer to give Chico State an improbable come-from-behind victory in the first-ever meeting between the Wildcats and Cougars.
 
McFerren was one of five Wildcats who scored in double figures—Drew Kitchens delivered a career-high 18 points, Robert Duncan added 17, Isaiah Ellis came off the bench to contribute 13 points, while Tanner Giddings posted his first collegiate double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. McFerren tallied 15 points and two 3-pointers—both coming in the contest's final 64 seconds. The second trey, of course, plunged a dagger into the heart of Cal State San Marcos, which appeared to be less than two seconds away from pulling off a huge road upset.
 

Chico State entered the game ranked No. 22 in the nation on the strength of an 8-1 season record. The Wildcats also sported a 2-0 conference mark. Cal State San Marcos, in its first season as a member of the NCAA and CCAA, was 4-3 on the season and 2-0 in conference play.
 
On paper, it didn't seem like it was going to be the Wildcats' night. Chico State trailed for over 37 minutes in the contest, and the 'Cats' free throw shooting (14-of-29) nearly proved to be their undoing.
 
But the Wildcats' defense stepped up in crunch time, holding San Marcos to just 1-of-9 shooting over the final 9:35, and allowing Chico State to reel off a 23-11 run to pull out the victory.
 
The Wildcats used buckets by Kitchens and McFerren to jump out to a 4-0 lead early in the first half, only to see the Cougars go on a 20-8 run to build an eight point advantage. Three times Chico State was able to whittle the deficit down to four, but a 10-2 San Marcos run put the Cougars up 35-23 with 4:39 remaining in the period. The 'Cats came roaring back with a dozen unanswered points—Tyler Harris knocked down a pair of field goals, Ellis delivered a dunk, and Duncan drained a 3-pointer and hit three free throws—to knot up the contest at 35-all. San Marcos offset late baskets by McFerrin and Duncan with five free throws over the final 1:38 to take a 40-39 lead into halftime.
 
In the second half, the Cougars were up 49-45 when a McFerren layup and a three-point play by Ellis gave Chico State a brief 50-49 lead. It was all San Marcos over the next six minutes, though, as the Cougars outscored the 'Cats 22-10 to forge a 71-60 lead with 9:35 to play.
 
Chico State was back on its heels, but the defense dug in to allow the Wildcats to chip away at the Cougars' lead.
 

Ellis quickly sank a baseline jumper to ignite a 7-0 run. Kitchens knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 71-65, and then Duncan (who assisted on Ellis' and Kitchens' baskets) scored on a drive to trim the San Marcos advantage to 71-67.
 
The lead fluctuated between four and six before Duncan made two free throws and McFerren added another to pull the 'Cats to within three with 4:55 left.
 
Giddings scored the Wildcats' next five points, tipping in a pair of misses and making a free throw, to cut the Cougars' lead to one. But Declan Daly's jumper gave San Marcos an 80-77 cushion with just over a minute to play.
 
McFerren answered with a clutch 3-pointer to tie the game with 1:04 remaining.
 
Both teams had opportunities to take the lead in the waning seconds. San Marcos missed a layup, and an offensive foul gave Chico State the ball with 37 seconds left. The Wildcats got two tries to move in front, but Nate Ambrosini's 3-point attempt was off the mark, and Duncan missed on a turnaround jumper. San Marcos grabbed the rebound, and with two seconds left, the Cougars' Darnell Taylor was fouled.
 
Chico State immediately called timeout to try to ice Taylor while also drawing up a play to run following the free throws. Taylor made the first charity toss to put San Marcos in the lead. Then it was the Cougars' turn to call time out.
 
When Taylor went back to the foul line, it was obvious that he was going to try to miss the second free throw to keep Chico State from setting up an inbounds play. Fortunately for the Wildcats, Taylor unintentionally banked it in.
 
Down 82-80 with 1.2 seconds on the clock, McFerren spun to his left to take the inbounds pass from Giddings in front of the Cal State San Marcos bench. This was not the play the Wildcats devised during their timeout—the ball was supposed to go to Duncan, not McFerren.
 
McFerren barely had enough time to turn and get a good look at the basket. As he said afterward, "I instinctively took a dribble and just threw it up.
 
When it first left my hands, I didn't really think it was going in. I mean, I shot it to make it. But what are the odds of it actually going in?"
 
The shot from just beyond midcourt in front of the scorer's table drew nothing but net. The buzzer-beating 3-pointer gave Chico State an improbable 83-82 victory.
 
Acker Gym erupted with excitement, with fans tumbling out on to the court to celebrate. Meanwhile, the entire Wildcats team chased McFerren as he ran a victory lap of pure amazement, finally catching the night's hero in front of the lobby doors.
 
The last-second win extended Chico State's winning streak to six and kept the Wildcats undefeated in CCAA play. The 'Cats would go on to win the conference title for the second straight season, finish 22-7 overall, and make their fifth consecutive NCAA Championship Tournament appearance.
 
But the most exciting single moment in a season full of excitement undoubtedly came on December 12, 2015, when the "McFerren Miracle" assumed its rightful place in Chico State men's basketball history.
 
"It was the biggest shot of my life," McFerren said.