Saturday's scheduled men's basketball game between Chico State and Cal State LA has been canceled due to Cal State LA COVID-19 protocols, in accordance with California Collegiate Athletic Association policy. The women's game was canceled earlier this week. They are both ruled a "no contest," meaning the cancellation will not count on either teams' win-loss record. The games will not be rescheduled. That means that Thursday night's doubleheader, finishing with a top-10 tilt between the No. 4 Wildcats and No. 9 Cal State San Marcos, are the lone games on this week's schedule. 

In an effort to keep Chico State's teams, visiting teams, officials, staff, and the community as safe as possible, and to safeguard the Wildcats' playing seasons as COVID-19 cases spike across the state, no spectators will be allowed for either game. For ticketing questions or refunds, please contact University Box Office: 530-898-6333.
 
All Chico State basketball games are broadcast live on AM-1290 KPAY and available locally and online. Fans can also follow live stats. A live video broadcast of the game, featuring play by play from AM-1290 KPAY's Mike Baca and Mike Wessels, is available for purchase on the CCAA Network. For $9.95 per month, fans can access every Chico State game—home and away—along with all live and archived CCAA matchups. Anyone having difficulty signing up for the CCAA Network can submit a support ticket here: https://www.blueframetech.com/help
 
Links to streaming video, audio and live stats are available at www.chicowildcats.com in the calendar section on the homepage and on the women's and men's basketball schedule pages.
 
Chico State (10-0, 6-0 CCAA) and Cal State San Marcos (11-0, 7-0 CCAA) are the lone unbeaten teams remaining in the CCAA, and two of the last five unblemished NCAA Division II teams in the nation. The Wildcats are ranked No. 4 in the nation and Cal State San Marcos is No. 9.
 
No Chico State men's basketball team has ever won its first 11 games of a season, a feat the Wildcats will attempt to achieve Thursday. Perhaps that is because no Chico State team has ever contained such a mix of talent and experience. Seven of 11 active Wildcats are in the program for their fourth, fifth of sixth year. Isaiah Brooks and Malik Duffy are in their sixth; Joshua Curls, Kevin Warren, and Brennan Wheeler are in their fifth; Joshua Hamilton and Kelvin Wright Jr. are in their fourth; Colby Orr and Andrew Parker are in their third; and Evan Oliver and Kaleb Carter their second. The Wildcats have played like a veteran squad, finding a way to squeak out wins when they aren't playing their best basketball, and blasting teams when they are.
 
Cal State San Marcos' 11-0 start is its best in program history.
 
About The CCAA Network 
The CCAA Network provides subscribers access to all live and on-demand Chico State video broadcasts and CCAA broadcasts, for $9.95 per month. Powered by BlueFrame, the CCAA Network is available via phone or computer at CCAANetwork.com/Chico or CCAANetwork.com, as well as via Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, and Android platforms. Subscribers can watch as many games on the CCAA Network as they want, both home and on the road, as teams from the Most Successful Conference in Division II compete each week on the diamond, field and court.

About The CCAA COVID-19 Policy for Canceled Games
The CCAA Executive Council Steering Committee, based on a recommendation from the conference directors of athletics, has approved a revision to its policies for basketball games affected by COVID-19. For the 2021-22 season, games that are unable to be played due to COVID-related circumstances will now be declared a 'no contest' rather than a 'forfeit.' This policy will also apply to any conference basketball games that were previously ruled a forfeit prior to the change of policy.

These changes are being made with the consideration of the recent surge of the Omicron variant, which is impacting fully-vaccinated individuals, and aligning with NCAA standards that if a team does not appear or a game is not started due to circumstances such as weather conditions, accidents, breakdown of vehicles, illness, or catastrophic causes, a no contest is declared.

Qualification for the CCAA Basketball Tournament powered by Under Armour, will now be determined by winning percentage. The top six teams in the men's and women's standings by winning percentage will play March 3-5 in Arcata to determine who will earn the CCAA's automatic bids. 

This decision reverses an Aug. 25 decision which ruled that a canceled CCAA competition would be declared a 'forfeit' by the team that caused the cancellation due to COVID-19 protocols. 

"The CCAA has been a leader when it comes to considering the health and safety of our student-athletes, and all 12 institutions will continue to work towards that goal," said CCAA Commissioner Mitch Cox. "We have now seen this new variant impact vaccinated people and the feeling is there should not be a negative outcome for those programs who have to responsibly deal with an outbreak of cases."

The CCAA continues to follow the COVID-19 guidelines outlined by the NCAA unless local restrictions are more stringent. The NCAA recommendations and additional resources from the Sport Science Institute are available at ncaa.org. As medical and scientific data continues to develop around the pandemic, the CCAA will continue to monitor and take additional actions as needed.