A crowd of nearly 1,000 Chico State men's basketball fans were on hand Saturday night at Acker Gym to share in the Senior Night festivities spotlighting outgoing players Kaleb Carter, Justin Vigil, Dylan Belquist, and Brennan Wheeler. But head coach Greg Clink gave the quartet of senior 'Cats the ultimate nod of appreciation, including them all in the starting lineup against Cal State Monterey Bay. It provided the Wildcats with a spark that lasted the entire evening, resulting in a convincing 73-57 victory over the visiting Otters.
With the win, Chico State snapped its four-game losing streak and improved to 11-14 on the season and 9-11 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). More importantly, it moved the Wildcats into a three-way tie for sixth place in the conference standings, keeping the 'Cats in the hunt for one of the four remaining CCAA Tournament berths. Cal State Monterey Bay slipped to 10-14 overall and 8-11 in conference play.
Jojo Murphy scored 12 of his game-high 15 points in the second half to lead the Wildcats' offensive attack, while also contributing five rebounds and five assists. Vigil added 11 points and five boards, with Carter playing arguably the best game of his Chico State career, scoring 10 points and blocking four shots. The 'Cats shot 46.5 percent on the night to avenge a January 19 loss to the Otters in Seaside.
The game was a back-and-forth affair in the early stages of the first half, with two tie scores and six lead changes in the first 11 minutes. With the Gators up 18-17, Chico State went on a 15-4 run—highlighted by 3-pointers from Vigil and Joshua Hamilton, plus baskets by Miles Daniels and Kelvin Wright Jr.—to jump in front 32-22. The 'Cats were able to maintain their double digit lead as Trae Taylor delivered three buckets and Vigil dropped in a layup in the final three minutes, and Chico State went into the locker room at halftime with a 41-31 advantage.
After the Otters scored the first basket of the second half, the Wildcats took full control of the contest, blowing the game open with a 28-6 run. Murphy hit two 3-pointers and a pair of field goals during that stretch, with a whole host of Wildcats—Hamilton, Daniels, Wright Jr., Oliver, and Wheeler—contributing to the 'Cats' offensive barrage that ballooned the lead to 71-41. It proved to be too big a deficit for Monterey Bay to overcome, and though the Otters outscored Chico State 16-2 over the last eight-and-a-half minutes, the outcome was never in doubt, as the Wildcats cruised to the 73-57 victory.
Chico State will be in Southern California next week to wrap up regular season play and hopefully complete a late push into the postseason. The Wildcats take on Cal State San Bernardino Thursday night, then go head-to-head with longtime CCAA rival Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday afternoon.
