CHICO FLIRTS WITH IGNOMINIOUS RECORD IN LOSS TO YELLOW JACKETS
 

     The Chico State men's basketball team was giving the basketball away like they were giving out Halloween candy on Saturday afternoon in Ellensburg, Washington dropping a 62-56 decision to Montana State Billings.

     Chico committed 29 turnovers en route to dropping their second game in as many days at the season opening Division-II Tip Off Classic. The most turnovers in the CCAA era for Chico State was 31 in an 86-82 loss to Stanislaus in November of 2007.

     Chico could not overcome a stretch bridging the 1st and 2nd halves where they scored two points 11-minute-and-50-second stretch. Even with the Wildcats propensity to turn the ball over they kept it close by playing well in the half-court defensively, bodying up and getting physical with the taller YellowJackets. 
     Chico's Robel Zemmo provided a spark off the bench scoring 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Dominican University transfer Michael Wilson, who scored 23 against Central Washington on Friday night, didn't attempt a shot until his 15th minute on the floor. He finished with 9 points in 26 minutes.
     For the second straight night Chico struggled with ball pressure and the decision making out of traps. Something they will see for the rest of the season until they fix it. Chico struggled shooting the ball going 4-for-24 from three point range.

     Cortevious Taylor who scored only two points on one shot attempt against Central scored 8 points and grabbed 5 boards in 14 minutes of play.

     Chico will wrap up play in Ellensburg on Sunday night when they take on Western Washington. The Vikings fell to CCAA foe San Bernardino 85-82 in a thriller on Friday night. Western will play Central Washington on Saturday afternoon. 
     You can hear the Wildcats take on the Vikings on Sunday at 7pm on KpaySports 1290 & 102.9 FM as well as the KpaySports app.

     The Chico State men's basketball team lost their season opener at the Division II Tip-Off Classic in Ellensburg, Washington on Friday night 78-69.

     Coming off a disappointing 8-19 season the Wildcats were hoping to christen the 2026-27 with a win, but some familiar issues reared their ugly head.

     Chico committed eight turnovers in the first half which led to twleve CWU points. The Wildcats of Chico State also had trouble defending the three as their rotations out of set pieces were a tick slow and the Wildcats of Central Washington was able to knock down 11-for-25 from long distance.

     Chico found themselves down 41-23 late in the 1st half but close the first stanza on a 5-0 run to cut the deficit down to thirteen. Chico would eventually cut the Central lead to 45-37 before the hosts would counter and never be threatened the rest of the night.

     It was fantastic debut for Dominican University transfer Senior Michael Wilson who scored a game high 23 on 8-of-13 shooting and 5-of-8 from three-point range. Donjae Lindsey, a Stanislaus State tranfer, chipped in 9 points in his Wildcat debut.

     Jalen Childs came of the bench to score a team-high 20 for Central going 7-of-9 from the field.

     Chico outscored Central 32-20 in the paint but was outscored 36-26 in bench points. 

     This tip-off classic involves six teams with three men's match-ups each day. It won't take long for the Wildcats to turn the page. Chico will play Montana State-Billings on Saturday morning at 11am. You can hear the game on KpaySports 1290 & 102.9 FM as well as the KpaySports app.