CHICO – Adam Afifi scored 23 points, Jojo Murphy contributed to 21, as the duo helped the 22^nd-ranked Chico State men's basketball team overcome a physical battle with Academy of Art in the Wildcats' 86-75 win at Acker Gym on Saturday.
 
Despite shooting 52.6 percent from the field and making 20 second-chance points, the Wildcats (3-0) had to earn the win over the Urban Knights (1-2), who was voted second in the PacWest Coaches Preseason Poll. Chico State would lead by as many as 11 only to see it diminish.
 
After Academy of Art's Rodney Munson connected a 3-point basket to give the Urban Knights the lead midway through the second half, Murphy came up with a trey of his one 35 seconds later that gave the Wildcats the lead back and begin a 27-14 run the rest of the period. Part of that successful run in the end was the free throws, which Chico State went 13-for-14 on the line while Academy of Art was limited to three and all were missed. Joshua Hamilton, who scored all eight of his points during that run made all six of his free throws.
 
Both sides had trouble taking care of the ball today, as each team committed 16 turnovers. Chico State generated 27 points off those miscues while Academy of Art scored 21 points.
 
For Afifi, his 23 points is a career-high. His previous best was last season when he was at CSUN, he scored 15 points at Utah Tech. As for the reigning CCAA Freshman of the Year Murphy, it was his first 20-point game on the very young season.
 
Latrell Williams, who was selected to the All-PacWest preseason team, scored 20 points and grabbed seven boards, the most for the Urban Knights.
 
Chico State will get to enjoy Thanksgiving at home before they hit the road for the first time this season. It will travel to San Rafael Sunday to take on Dominican. Tipoff is at 3 p.m.