LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Thursday night saw the Wildcats clinch a top two postseason seed with a thrilling 93-90 win over Cal State LA. In a nail-biter in La-La Land, Chico State edged out the Golden Eagles behind standout performances from Trae Taylor and JoJo Murphy.
With the victory, the Wildcats improved to an impressive 20-5 overall and 16-3 in CCAA play, extending their winning streak to five. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles suffered another tough loss, dropping to 11-14 overall and 9-10 in the conference. With Cal State San Bernardino's loss to East Bay at home on Thursday, the Wildcats successfully secured a first-round bye in the CCAA Championships, moving out of range with a five game advantage over the Coyotes.
The Wildcats came out strong, building a 15-point lead with just under six minutes remaining in the first half. However, Cal State LA responded with urgency, cutting the deficit to just three by halftime.
The second half remained tightly contested, with both teams staying within single digits of each other until the final buzzer.
With Chico State clinging to an 89-88 lead with about a minute to go, Trae Taylor pulled down an offensive rebound and knocked down two clutch free throws to push the lead to three. The Golden Eagles answered with a layup to cut it back to one with 35 seconds left, giving them a chance to force a stop.
Murphy drained the clock before nearly losing the ball. With just a second left on the shot clock, he recovered and hit a contested jumper to put the Wildcats up three. Cal State LA had one final opportunity, but the Wildcats were able to get a stop on their game-tying three-point attempt, sealing the Wildcats' victory.
Trae Taylor and Murphy combined for 48 points, with Trae Taylor posting a career-high 26 points, seven rebounds, and an impressive 12-of-13 from the free-throw line. Murphy recorded his 14th 20-point game of the season, finishing with 22 points and seven rebounds.
Chico State's bench also made a significant impact, outscoring Cal State LA's reserves 21-6, led by Cortevious Taylor's efficient 10 points.
Next up, the Wildcats face Cal State Dominguez Hills in a battle of the top two teams in the CCAA standings, with the 'Cats still in striking distance of a top seed finish in the regular season campaign.
Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 22, at the University Gym.
