WESTWOOD—The Chico State men's basketball team played an exhibition game Thursday night at 2^nd-ranked UCLA's home, Pauley Pavilion. It's a storied team and arena to be sure. But the crucial word in that first sentence is "played." It had been 608 days since the Wildcats last faced an opponent, and 600-plus since their 2020 NCAA Championship Tournament run was called off due to COVID-19.
 
Malik Duffy scored 18 points and tacked on seven points and two blocked shots. Kevin Warren scored 11, and Isaiah Brooks 10 in the Wildcats' 100-61 loss to the Bruins. Those three are all returning starters from Chico State's 2019–20 squad. The Bruins return all five starters from last season's team that made a run to the NCAA Tournament Final Four.
 
All 12 Wildcats played at least seven minutes. Four were making their Chico State debuts: Isaiah Holm, Kaleb Carter, Dylan Belquist and Evan Oliver.
 
The Wildcats, favorites to win the 2021–22 CCAA title in the conference's preseason coaches' poll and among teams receiving votes in both the National Association of Basketball Coaches and Division II Sports Information Directors Association of America Top 25 polls, will travel to Pomona next weekend to face Azusa Pacific and Seattle Pacific in the Conference Crossover Challenge. Chico State hosts Academy of Art in their home opener on November 17 at 7 p.m. in their first home game in 624 days.