Published 2012-01-31T17:05:00Z”/>
Sarah Goad
It was a split weekend for the men’s basketball team as it hosted two rivals, Sonoma State and Humboldt State.
The ‘Cats were looking to even the series against Sonoma State on Friday night after the Seawolves took down the team 61-54 in Sonoma in December.
The score remained close throughout the first half with neither team leading by more than eight points and the ‘Cats leading 35-30 at halftime.
Fouls plagued the Wildcats throughout the game, as 25 fouls were called against the ‘Cats compared to 16 against the Seawolves.
Three Chico State players fouled out of the game.
Freshman forward Jordan Semple and sophomore guard Sean Park fouled out within seconds of each other with a little more than a minute left to play.
Sophomore forward Amir Carraway was the next to go, fouling out with 9.5 seconds left in the game.
“I think we just got a little too intense,” Carraway said.
Fans were on their feet as they watched the last seconds of the game tick away.
Down by three, junior guard Damario Sims missed a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded and the team lost 62-59, in its second loss in Acker Gym this season.
Head coach Greg Clink saw too many missed opportunities, he said.
“We just didn’t make the plays that we have been making down the stretch,” Clink said.
The team played well, but the game just didn’t go its way, Sims said.
Rivalry weekend continued on Saturday as the Lumberjacks of Humboldt State pounded into Acker Gym on Alumni Association Night.
Wildcats of the past and present filled the stands to watch the team go for the season sweep of the Lumberjacks.
Carraway was on his game against the ‘Jacks as he scored 11 points in the first half. Park and senior guard Jay Flores each contributed six first-half points for the ‘Cats.
Chico State was 10-13 from the free-throw line and led 31-26 at the half.
“I just think our defense kept us in the game again,” Flores said.
The ‘Cats sealed the 67-61 win with a dramatic 3-pointer from Flores that brought the crowd to its feet. The team swept Humboldt State for the first time since joining the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
“It just feels good to play well and win and sweep a team that we haven’t traditionally swept,” Clink said.
The ‘Cats ended the Lumberjacks’ six-game win streak and improved to 9-2 at home this season.
The Wildcats will look to even the season series against Cal Poly Pomona, the team that beat them 64-50 back in December, at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
“We owe Pomona one because they beat us pretty badly down at their spot,” Carraway said.
The ‘Cats take on San Francisco State at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Acker Gym, hoping to take the season sweep.
Chico State beat San Francisco State 72-66 on Dec. 1.
“We’ve just got to defend them,” Flores said. “They’re a hard-nosed team.”
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<strong>Sarah Goad can be reached at
</strong><em>[email protected]</em>
