SEATTLE, Wash. - A familiar set of opponents in Seattle already produced a positive start for the Wildcats after taking the season-opening win for the second straight year. After trailing by a single basket at the half, Chico State men's basketball finished strong in Friday's 76-73 win over Seattle Pacific.
The win is the first career for Cevin Meador, who took the reins of the Wildcats on an interim basis following the retirement of Greg Clink four days ago.
After graduating longtime seniors Joshua Hamilton and Kelvin Wright Jr., the 'Cats coaching staff worked tirelessly in the off-season to recruit and prepare the returners for the new season.
Junior Jojo Murphy scored 16 points, shooting 6-for-16 from the field alongside two three-pointers. He claimed seven boards and four assists while only surrendering the ball once.
After a breakout season last year, Miles Daniels has come into his own, and it is already showing after recording a double-double against the Falcons. Daniels scored 12 points and assisted teammates 10 times in the win while refusing to commit a single turnover.
The sophomore shot 50 percent from the field on 5-for-10 shooting, two shots from beyond the three-point line.
Earning the first start of his career, Isaiah Kerr played 32 minutes and scored a vital 11 points while grabbing eight rebounds.
The Wildcats earned the lead with 13 minutes remaining in the game, showcasing a solid defensive effort from the entire squad to hold on until the final buzzer.
Despite recording two more turnovers than the hosts, the Wildcats were efficient with the ball after stripping it from the Falcons, adding 19 points from steals.
The Chico State bench played a vital role in the win, accounting for 25 points and outscoring the SPU bench by double-digit scoring.
Rounding out the short trip to the Pacific Northwest, the Wildcats will battle it out against Azusa Pacific on Saturday. Both teams earned berths to the NCAA West Regional in 2023, with the Cougars defying the odds as the lowest-seeded team, winning their way to the regional final but falling to CSUSB.
Tip-off at Royal Brougham Pavilion is at 5:15 p.m. and will stream for free on the SPU Athletics YouTube channel. Click here to be directed to the live stream.
