Already off to the second best start in program history at 9-0, and one win shy of tying the school record, the 5^th-ranked Chico State men's basketball team appears to be fine-tuning itself into a more formidable machine by the game. The Wildcats dismantled rival Humboldt State Saturday night in Acker Gym, limiting the Lumberjacks to three field goals in the game's first 14 minutes and rolling to an 86-60 win.
 
Malik Duffy scored a game-high 22 points and Joshua Hamilton had 19 points on a perfect shooting night (6-of-6 from the floor and 2-of-2 from 3) as the Wildcats remained red hot from beyond the arc, burying 10-of-17 tries. They have now made 55 of 103 triple attempts over their last four games. Kevin Warren chipped in 14 points, Isaiah Brooks scored 12, and Kelvin Wright Jr. had nine points and nine rebounds.
 
Chico State's defense held Humboldt State to 33 percent shooting and their lowest scoring output in 19 games (since the last time they played the Wildcats).
 
This marked the second time in a row that the Wildcats beat a long-time rival by 20 points or more, and the team's fourth such blowout victory in its last six contests. They enjoyed leads of 11-2, 32-11, and 76-41. They beat Sonoma State 80-60 last Saturday night.
 
Chico State, ranked No. 5 in the nation in the Division II Media Poll and No. 7 by the NABC, will head into the New Year with a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) record of 5-0, good for a tie for first place with Cal State San Marcos. Those five wins give the team 10 straight regular-season conference wins, which ties the team record. Humboldt State fell to 7-3 overall and 1-3 in the CCAA.
 
Duffy drilled 4-of-6 of his 3-point attempts and is now shooting 51 percent on the season (second in the CCAA behind Brooks at 53 percent). His third three of the night was the 150^th of his career and moved him past Pat Condon and Deon Robinson into eighth in Chico State history.  
 
This is the second time a Chico State men's basketball team has won its first nine games. The 1942–43 Wildcats started 10-0. It was only eight years prior that Chico State and Humboldt State began squaring off on the basketball court, in 1933. They played for the 209^th time Saturday. The Wildcats have won 10 of the last 11 meetings and now lead the all-time series 132-76. 
 
They'll attempt to break the program record for consecutive regular-season conference wins and tie the program record for best start to a season in a special Acker Gym matinee on Sunday, January 2, against Stanislaus State. Tipoff for the men's game is scheduled for 3 p.m. The women's game will tip off at 1.

Links to streaming video on the CCAA Network ($9.95/month), as well as free audio and live stats, are all available on the schedule page and calendar section at www.chicowildcats.com. The game will be broadcast locally on AM-1290 KPAY. 
 
Please note that all fans (age 12 and older) attending Chico State basketball events must show proof of their fully vaccinated status or a negative COVID-19 test administered by a healthcare professional from within 72 hours of the start of the event. And in accordance with recently announced state health and safety guidelines, fans must wear masks at all times while indoors on the Chico State campus.

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With 14:24 left in 1st half @ChicoState_MBB leads @HSUJacks men 13-5 pic.twitter.com/3mIc3vvNbw

— KPAYSPORTS1290 WEAREVAXXED (@KPAYSPORTS) December 19, 2021

With 8:14 left in game @ChicoState_MBB leads @HSUJacks 73-41 pic.twitter.com/wjJpoP6gKB

— KPAYSPORTS1290 WEAREVAXXED (@KPAYSPORTS) December 19, 2021