SEATTLE, Wash. - The Wildcats are forced to settle with a split in Seattle after falling to the Cougars by a slim three-point margin on Saturday. APU had a strong performance beyond the three-point line, creating a problematic defensive battle for Chico State.

Jojo Murphy was a pain for the Cougars defense on Saturday, scoring 29 points against the PacWest opponent. The junior shot 11-17 from the field, adding four long-range baskets, and finished 3-3 from the free throw line. 

Murphy was clocking his minutes, playing all but three minutes in the trip's conclusion.

Sophomore Isaiah Kerr is flexing the work he has been putting in during the off-season, scoring 20 points on 8-15 field goal shooting—all without turning over the ball a single time.

Miles Daniels scored 12 points and four steals in the loss, assisting teammates thrice.

The Wildcats went into halftime with a single-point lead but could not hold off the Cougars' offensive after they recorded 21 points off the bench, as opposed to the 'Cats' 10 off the bench. 

Under the basket, Chico State struggled to grab defensive rebounds nine separate times, which rewarded the Cougars with 18 points on second-chance attempts.

Free throws proved to be the deciding factor after the Wildcats scored seven of their thirteen buckets from the line, unable to get six crucial points to sink.

With one more road trip until the Wildcats open up their season at home, they will travel to San Francisco to take on the Urban Knights of ARTU next Saturday. It will be an early tip-off on the weekend, kicking off at 4 p.m. at Kezar Pavilion.