They started out playing for the love of the game. Little children bouncing their basketball down to the playground, dunking on the Nerf hoop stuck in the door, or shooting on an old rickety basket in the driveway. The love of the game did not go away for Chico State seniors Colby Orr, Joshua Curls, Kevin Warren, Isaiah Brooks and Malik Duffy. However, a new reality moved in when they came to Chico State. Work. And a lot of it.
 
It's not always so fun practicing for hours on end, coaches demanding every ounce of energy, with textbooks waiting at home to be read. The same gym. The same demands. Day after day. Year after year. But the love and appreciation grows for those willing to dig deep into themselves and one another, and put the consistent work in. Orr, Curls, Warren, Brooks, and Duffy have, and Saturday night, the reaped what they have sewn. Joy.
 
The five were honored for their years of resplendent representation of the University prior to Chico State's 75-52 win against Cal State East Bay to close out the regular season. The best part of the night for those in attendance was the joy that was written on their five faces—and palpable throughout Acker Gym—all evening long.

Thankfully, University Photographer Jason Halley was on hand to capture in images what this writer is attempting to paint with words. He even caught Warren smiling on a few occasions, when he wasn't piling up 11 points, seven rebounds, and a pair of assists. Brooks led the team with 18 points, matching his career-best with six 3-pointers in 10 attempts and tying the great Jay Flores for eighth in program history with 153 career triples. The California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) leader in assist-to-turnover ratio also had three assists and did not commit a turnover in nearly 32 minutes of action. Duffy finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Curls sparked the Wildcats' offense early and finished with a career-best seven points. Orr chipped in eight points, three rebounds, and three assists.
 
The Wildcats wrap up the regular season with a record of 19-3 overall and 15-3 in the CCAA. They are only the third team in the 107-season history of the program to win 19 of their first 22 contests. The 1940-41 and 2015-16 teams also accomplished the feat. They finished in second place in the conference standings, one game behind Cal State San Bernardino, earning one of two first-round byes in next weekend's CCAA Tournament in the process.
 
The Wildcats will open the postseason on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Lumberjack Arena in Arcata against the winner of Thursday's Cal State San Marcos-Cal Poly Pomona matchup. The winner of Friday's game will play for the CCAA Tournament title Saturday at 8 p.m. Every CCAA Tournament game will be broadcast locally on AM-1290 KPAY and streamed on the CCAA Network. Fans planning to attend the tournament in Arcata can find ticketing information HERE and attendance policies HERE.
 
Chico State enters the postseason on a six-game winning streak that's been spurred by its defense. Saturday was no exception. The Wildcats held the Pioneers to their lowest point total since December 16 and second lowest of the season. Chico State earned a 38-30 edge on the glass, allowing Cal State East Bay only five offensive rebounds and two second-chance points all night. The Wildcats' defense turned 14 Cal State East Bay turnovers into 22 points.
 
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 Sunday's baseball game. Thank you for your support of Chico State's students, including our student-athletes!