POMONA—The Chico State men's basketball team refused to consider the 2022–23 season a "rebuilding year." True, the Wildcats relied greatly on freshmen and sophomores to get the job done on the hardwood, but the team's veteran players who brought experience to the table played a huge role as well. Saturday, when the 'Cats needed a win and some help to keep their season alive, they got both: with Joshua Hamilton scoring 10 of Chico State's final 14 points in the second half, Chico State edged Cal Poly Pomona 59-58. Combined with San Francisco State's overtime victory over Cal State East Bay, the Wildcats are now headed to postseason play in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Tournament.
With Saturday's win, Chico State improves to 12-15 overall finished the conference schedule tied with Cal State East Bay for sixth place in the CCAA standings. The Wildcats owned the tiebreaker over the Pioneers, thus giving Chico State the sixth and final seed in next week's CCAA Tournament and ending East Bay's season. Chico State will head to Turlock Thursday to take on No. 3 seed San Francisco State in the CCAA Tournament's first quarterfinal game, with tipoff slated for 12 noon.
Cal Poly Pomona, which was also fighting for a postseason berth, saw its season come to an end with Saturday's loss to the Wildcats. The Broncos finish the 2022–23 campaign 12-14 overall and 9-13 in CCAA play.
Hamilton finished the game with a team-high 15 points to go along with seven rebounds and five assists. Miles Daniels hit three 3-pointers, scoring 13 points while adding seven rebounds and four assists. Jojo Murphy contributed eight points, with Kelvin Wright Jr., Evan Oliver, and Trae Taylor combining for 18 points, 15 rebounds, and six steals.
Neither team shot the ball well in the first half—Chico State shot 27.3 percent from the field, Cal Poly Pomona 35.7 percent—and as a result, points were at a premium. Three-pointers by Hamilton and Murphy and a dunk by Brennan Wheeler helped the Wildcats take an early 13-9 lead, but then Chico State could only muster one bucket over the next six minutes. Cal Poly Pomona took advantage, surging in front 20-15, but back came the 'Cats—two Wright Jr. layups, a pair of Oliver free throws, and another Murphy 3-ball put Chico State on top 24-22. After the Broncos tied the game, Taylor completed the first half scoring with two free throws, giving the Wildcats a 26-24 lead at intermission.
The 'Cats—and in particular Daniels—flashed the hot shooting hand to open the second half. Daniels knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and a layup, and combined with a Murphy jumper, an Oliver layup, and two free throws by Taylor, went up double digits. Daniels's third trey of the period extended Chico State's lead to 43-32 with 12:26 remaining. Pomona responded with a 11-2 run to pull to within a deuce with 8:06 to play.
That's when Hamilton took over the proceedings. The junior guard hit two free throws and a 3-pointer in quick succession, giving the Wildcats a 50-43 lead and some much needed breathing room. Hamilton hit two more foul shots with 1:10 to play, but a Pomona three-point play cut the deficit to one at 54-53 with exactly one minute remaining.
With just 36 seconds left, Hamilton delivered the back-breaker, nailing a 3-pointer to extend Chico State's lead to four. Wheeler—yet another reliable Wildcat veteran—iced the game by sinking a pair of free throws with 15 seconds to go, and despite a Pomona 3-pointer at the buzzer, the 'Cats prevailed by a final of 59-58.
The Chico State players quickly went to the locker room to watch the end of the San Francisco State-Cal State East Bay game, and when the Gators locked down the overtime victory, the Wildcats officially knew that they were postseason bound…and the 2022–23 season would continue on.
CHICO STATE GIVING DAY IS 3.1.23
This Wednesday is Chico State Giving Day. The support of our Wildcat Family over the years has helped propel our student-athletes' excellence.
Since the effort began in 2017, the impact of our supporters is unmatched, generously donating $529,743 during that span.
Chico State Athletics is about:
- Excelling academically.
- Contributing in the community.
- Conquering in competition.
During Giving Day 2022, 660 donors gave 876 gifts for a grand total of $123,537 in support our student-athletes and to plant seeds for an even brighter future.
Please help us aim even higher with your gift during Chico State Giving Day 2023 on March 1. Donate to your favorite
athletics program or contribute to our priority funds.
Your gift to the Wildcat Athletic Fund (which provides for the department's greatest overall needs), Student-Athlete Success, and/or your favorite program, gets us a crucial step closer to the next special moment for our Wildcat Family.
You can also help us make this the most successful year yet by becoming a
Giving Day Ambassador for a team you care about. Your participation makes a significant difference and inspires others to give a gift.
We go farther together than we do alone. Thank you!
