The Chico State men's basketball team has reached the final week of the regular season not knowing if it will reach postseason play, or if the 2022–23 campaign will come to a sooner-than-desired end. The Wildcats need a strong finish to wrangle one of the four remaining California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) berths, and to accomplish that goal, they'll have to go through two talented opponents on the road. The 'Cats take on regular season conference champion Cal State San Bernardino Thursday at 7:30 p.m., then on Saturday at 3 p.m. go head-to-head with another team fighting for a postseason spot, Cal Poly Pomona.
Fans can follow the action locally on KPAY Sports 1290-AM, with Mike Baca handling the play-by-play Thursday night and Mike Wessels on the call Saturday afternoon, with both broadcasts also simulcast on the Internet. Live Stats and live streaming video are also available online, with links located on the Wildcat Athletics homepage and the women's basketball schedule page. Accessing the live video stream requires a monthly subscription fee that grants users access to every CCAA event on the network, home and away.
Following a split of last week's final regular season home stand, Chico State enters the week 11-14 overall and 9-11 in CCAA. The Wildcats are in a three-way tie with Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State East Bay for sixth place in the conference standings, and one game behind third place San Francisco State, Cal Poly Humboldt, and Sonoma State. With two of the six available CCAA Tournament bids clinched, the battle for the four remaining spots in the conference tournament will be fierce, and could come down to the final possession of Saturday's final game.
The 'Cats lost a triple-overtime 109-105 thriller to Cal State San Bernardino back on January 14 at Acker Gym, so Chico State would love to return the favor on the 'Yotes home court and even up the season series. A win over Pomona would give the Wildcats a season sweep over the Broncos and a potentially important postseason-determining tiebreaker.
Chico State is third in the 12-team CCAA in offense, averaging 73.4 points a game, but ranks ninth in the conference in defense, surrendering 73.5 points a contest.
The Wildcats have scuffled away from the friendly confines of Acker Gym. On the road this season, Chico State has dropped 10 of 13 decisions.
Cal State San Bernardino, which clinched the CCAA regular season title last week, is 23-3 overall and 18-2 in conference play. The 'Yotes are No. 2 in the latest NCAA West Region poll, while nationally are ranked No. 11 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Top 25, and No. 13 in the D2SIDA Division II Media Poll.
San Bernardino enters Thursday's game with the Wildcats having won eight in a row, and has won all nine of its home games so far this season.
The Coyotes are the top scoring team in the CCAA, averaging 89.6 points a game. Defensively, San Bernardino ranks 10th in the conference, allowing 74.7 points per contest. The 'Yotes lead the CCAA in rebounding (45.2 boards a game) and are second in the CCAA in 3-point field goals (225).
Since 1987, San Bernardino holds a 27-26 advantage over the Wildcats.
Cal Poly Pomona, which faces the Wildcats following a Thursday tilt against Stanislaus State, is 12-12 entering the week, and, like Chico State, is 9-11 in conference play and squarely in the mix to earn a CCAA Tournament berth.
The Broncos need an immediate reversal of fortunes, though, if they want their season to extend past Saturday—Pomona has lost six of its last eight.
The Broncos are 7-4 this season on their home floor, Kellogg Arena.
Cal Poly Pomona averages only 67.9 points a game, but is one of the stingiest defensive teams in the CCAA, giving up just 70.5 points per contest.
Despite bowing to Chico State 81-64 on January 12, the Broncos hold a 37-21 edge over Chico State in games dating back to 1987.
