CHICO, Calif. – The Chico State men's basketball team delivered in crunch time once again, securing a hard-fought 74-68 victory over Stanislaus State in Thursday night's rematch. Four starters reached double figures, with JoJo Murphy leading the charge with 19 points. 

With the win, the Wildcats get back on track, improving to 15-6 overall and 12-3 in CCAA play, keeping them firmly in second place and within striking distance of Cal State Dominguez Hills. Meanwhile, Stanislaus State falls to 9-12 overall and 6-9 in conference play. 

In a game that remained tight throughout, Chico State closed on a decisive 12-5 run in the final 3:36. With the score tied and five minutes remaining, Cortevious Taylor checked in and immediately made his presence felt, knocking down two clutch three-pointers, including a dagger at the 1:02 mark to push the lead to five. The Wildcats locked in defensively and knocked down their free throws to seal the win. 

Chico State benefited from balanced scoring across the lineup. Max Walters tallied 13 points and seven rebounds, connecting on three of six from beyond the arc. Isaiah Kerr added 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Caden Harris provided a key 12-point contribution. 

The Wildcats now boast a 10-1 home record, and with three home games remaining, they have a chance to match their second-best home record of 13-1, last achieved in the 2017-18 season. 

With the season sweep of Stanislaus State in the books, Chico State now turns its attention to Saturday's rematch against Cal State Monterey Bay. In their last meeting, the Wildcats staged an incredible second-half comeback to win 78-74 on the road. Meanwhile, the Otters enter the match-up coming off a double-overtime heart-breaker against Cal Poly Humboldt. 

Closing out the week at home, the Wildcats will host the Otters of CSUMB this Saturday. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. on February 8 at Art Acker Gym.