The first time the Chico State men's basketball team faced rivals Humboldt State and Sonoma State this season, they dispatched of two of their longest-running rivals with relative ease, by scores of 86-60 and 81-61. It would serve the Wildcats well to forget about both of those games, which took place long ago when they were in the midst of winning their first 10 games of the season. That task might be a little easier Thursday night. After all, the Wildcats will not be playing Humboldt State. The University the Lumberjacks represent changed its name to Cal Poly Humboldt on Wednesday.
 
Chico State will also have the extra motivation of having dropped two of their last three games to fall to 11-2 overall and 7-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Wildcats are still ranked No. 13 in the nation. Cal Poly Humboldt is coming off back-to-back wins and is now 10-6 overall and 4-6 in the CCAA. Sonoma State (No word of any name changes.) is 3-15 overall and 3-9 in the CCAA, but all three of those wins have come in the Seawolves' last four home games.  
 
Thursday's game will tip off at approximately 7:30 p.m., and Saturday's is set to tip at 3 p.m.
 
Fans planning on attending the Cal Poly Humboldt game in person are asked to be familiar with the COVID-19 protocols and spectator policies on the Cal Poly Humboldt campus.

CAL POLY HUMBOLDT SPECTATOR POLICIES

Sonoma State is enforcing a no spectators policy for the game, so fans will not be permitted to attend in person.
 
Both games will broadcast live locally on AM-1290 KPAY and available online. Fans can also follow on the Internet via live stats. Live video broadcasts of the games are 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 of the website's homepage, and on the men's basketball schedule page.
 
The Wildcats smoked Sonoma State when they met back on December 11 at Acker Gym, drilling 17-of-34 triples on the way to victory. Kevin Warren led the way with 23 points, Malik Duffy added 19, and Isaiah Brooks scored 17. Warren hit 5-of-8 threes, Duffy 5-of-9, and Brooks 4-of-6. Duffy also pulled a game-high 12 rebounds. Kelvin Wright Jr. blocked five shots to lead a strong defensive effort. Chico State has won three straight and 13 of their last 16 meetings with Sonoma State. The Wildcats lead the all-time series 54-44. It was first contested in 1967.
 
Chico State first met then-Humboldt State in 1933. Thursday night they will be playing for the 209^th time, and the first as Chico State vs. Cal Poly Humboldt. The Wildcats have won 10 of the last 11 meetings and lead the all-time series 132-76. 
 
Beginning next week, the Wildcats will play six of their final eight regular season games at home. Two Wildcats might just reach major milestones between now and then. Malik Duffy is closing in on 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds. He's 64 points and 11 rebounds shy of becoming the eighth Wildcat to reach both marks. Isaiah Brooks is 17 assists shy of becoming the sixth Wildcat to reach that mark, and 17 threes away from moving into the program's top 10 in made triples.