TURLOCK, Calif. – The Chico State men's basketball team closed strong Thursday night, knocking down clutch free throws in the final seconds to secure a 73–69 CCAA road win over Stanislaus State on Feb. 5, 2026, at Fitzpatrick Arena. With the victory, the Wildcats improved to 7–13 overall (5–10 CCAA), while the Warriors fell to 10–11 (6–9 CCAA).

How it happened

Chico State came out aggressive and efficient in the opening half, using balanced scoring and early perimeter shooting to take a 38–36 lead into halftime. The Wildcats shot 50 percent in the first half and got a lift from their bench, which accounted for 16 points before the break.

Jeremiah Dargan broke his cold spell from last week's road trip to Los Angeles, leading the Wildcats with 18 points off the bench. Dargan shot 50-percent from the field, sinking nine of his ten attempts from the free throw line. A massive team effort to hold onto the ball, minimizing their turnovers against the Warriors with only six. 

The home side was using their home court advantage to dominate the paint, scoring 42 of their of their 69 points below the basket. However, the Wildcats perimeter defense keeping the three-point danger almost non-existent with only two of thirteen attempts made.

The second half featured constant momentum swings, with neither team leading by more than a few possessions. Chico State relied on timely shooting from Jeremiah Dargan and Chris Holley, while forcing Stanislaus into tough looks from the perimeter—the Warriors finished just 2-for-13 from three-point range on the night.

With the game tied late, Chico State made its move at the line. Dargan converted multiple free throws in the final 40 seconds to give the Wildcats breathing room, and after Stanislaus missed a pair at the other end, Cortevious Taylor iced the game with a free throw in the final moments. Chico State finished 20-for-27 at the stripe, capitalizing on late opportunities to seal the road win.

Standouts

Chico State (7–13, 5–10 CCAA)

• Jeremiah Dargan: 18 points (3-for-5 3FG), 9-for-10 FT

• Chris Holley: 15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists

• Robel Zemmo: 12 points

• Cortevious Taylor: 11 points, 4 rebounds

• Isaiah Brewington: 9 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block

Chico State's bench contributed 29 points, providing key scoring throughout the night.

Team numbers that told the story

• Shooting: Chico State 22–49 (44.9%), Stanislaus State 25–48 (52.1%)

• 3PT: Chico State 9–21, Stanislaus State 2–13

• Free Throws: Chico State 20–27, Stanislaus State 17–34

• Rebounds: Stanislaus State 36, Chico State 30

• Turnovers: Chico State 6, Stanislaus State 10

• Points in the Paint: Stanislaus State 42, Chico State 22

• Bench Points: Chico State 29, Stanislaus State 32