ROHNERT PARK—The Chico State men's basketball team hoisted 35 of its 58 field goal attempts from behind the 3-point arc Saturday in its afternoon contest with Sonoma State, but the real story was what was going on underneath the basket. The host Seawolves had their way in the lane throughout the entire game, scoring 36 points in the paint and outrebounding the Wildcats by a hefty 44-27 margin on the way to a 78-69 victory at the Wolves' Den in Rohnert Park.
Saturday's loss dropped Chico State to 4-5 on the season and 3-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Sonoma State won its second straight to improve to 4-7 overall and 3-2 in CCAA play.
Jojo Murphy hit six 3-pointers en route to scoring 30 points on the afternoon; the freshman guard also paced the Wildcats with five assists. Murphy has now scored at least 30 points in three consecutive games.
Justin Vigil drained three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points and five rebounds. Evan Oliver and Trae Taylor each scored seven points as the 'Cats were held to 39.7 percent shooting and 35.7 percent from long distance.
Sonoma State held the advantage the entire first half, scoring the first five points of the period and never looking back. Despite three 3-pointers by Murphy, the Seawolves gradually upped their lead to 22-13. A Taylor dunk and free throws by Vigil and Oliver pulled Chico State to within 24-19, but the Wildcats proceeded to hit just one field goal over a five minute period, allowing Sonoma State to balloon its lead to double digits at 35-21. Murphy, Vigil, and Joshua Hamilton all drained 3-pointers over the final six minutes of the half, but the 'Cats couldn't chip anything away from the 14-point deficit, and the Seawolves took a 48-34 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Vigil connected for a pair of 3-pointers, and another trey by Murphy early in the second half kept the 'Cats within 14, but with 15:21 remaining in the contest, Sonoma State led 60-43. A 7-1 Chico State run—a pair of Murphy buckets bookending a Max Daniels 3-pointer—cut the Seawolves' lead to 11, but once again the Wildcats' offense fell silent, going over eight minutes without a field goal. With only seven free throws by Chico State during that lengthy stretch, Sonoma State extended its advantage to 18 at 75-57 with 5:37 to play.
The 'Cats outscored the Seawolves 12-3 down the stretch—Murphy hit two field goals and a 3-pointer, while Taylor and Daniels connected for a bucket apiece—but it was far too little and far too late to mount a serious comeback attempt, as Sonoma State ran out the clock and cruised to the 78-69 win.
The Wildcats are back in the friendly confines of Acker Gym Sunday, December 18, taking on non-conference opponent Pacific Union before adjourning for the holiday break. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m.
