The impressive march toward March continued for the 11^th-ranked Chico State men's basketball team Thursday. The Wildcats rebounded from a slow start and roared past a red-hot Cal State Dominguez Hills squad on the way to a 77-61 win. The victory was Chico State's fifth straight. Three of those have come against one of the California Collegiate Athletic Association's top five teams.
 
Chico State is now 18-3 overall and 14-3 in the CCAA. The Wildcats have clinched one of the top two spots in the final standings and a first-round CCAA Tournament bye. They need a win Saturday night against Cal State East Bay and a loss by Cal State San Bernardino at Cal State Monterey Bay to win their fourth CCAA title in the past 10 seasons. The 18-3 start matches four other Chico State teams for the best ever through 21 games. It's the team's first 18-3 start since 2016–17.
 
Malik Duffy scored a season-high 27 points and has now scored 20-plus in three straight and four of the Wildcats' last five games. The reigning CCAA Player of the Week sank 11-of-16 shots and also grabbed 7 rebounds. Kevin Warren was also outstanding, finishing with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal. Kelvin Wright Jr. chipped in 12 points and 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.
 
Cal State Dominguez Hills (13-9, 10-6 CCAA) came into the game having won four straight and scored the game's first seven points. The Toros led 20-12 with 9:12 to go in the first half and the Wildcats appeared to have their hands full.
 
It was the other way around.
 
Chico State's defense clamped down, denying the Toros a field goal over the next eight minutes, and the Wildcats raced ahead on a 22-1 run. They forced Cal State Dominguez Hills into four turnovers and the Toros missed seven shots in a row. Meanwhile, Colby Orr, Brennan Wheeler and Duffy drained threes, and after Wright's fast-break bucket, Duffy completed the run by scoring nine points in a row.  
 
The lead had suddenly ballooned to 13 before Cal State Dominguez Hills almost closed the half with a 8-0 run. Isaiah Brooks stole a pass with three seconds left and found Warren for a dunk that just beat the buzzer. The Wildcats went to the half up 36-29.
 
Warren willed the Wildcats into control of the game out of the second-half gates. He scored 12 points and added a steal and an assist in an aggressive first 9:30 as they built their lead to its largest lead of the night at 62-43 with 10:36 to go. That marked the end of a 50-23 run that started with nine minutes to go in the first half.  
 
Chico State wraps up the regular season Saturday night at 7:30 against Cal State East Bay. Seniors Duffy, Warren, Brooks, Colby Orr, and Joshua Curls will be honored prior to tipoff. The game will be their last regular-season game at home. They'll travel to the CCAA Tournament in Arcata on March 3-5 with the conference tournament title on the line, and quite possibly the right to host the NCAA Tournament West Regional. The Wildcats are currently ranked No. 1 in the West and Cal State San Bernardino is No. 2.
 
HELP US PACK THE PANTRY!
It's Chico State Athletics Pack the Pantry Week and we have set a big goal—10,000 items—which would break the record we set last year. We need your help to reach it. You can donate monetarily HERE and every dollar will count for two items. You can also drop off a donation at any of Chico State Athletics' basketball, softball, and baseball games this weekend. Donations can also be dropped at the Pantry Friday until 3 p.m., or by calling 530-898-4098 to make arrangements. Thank you for your support of Chico State's students, including student-athletes!