Breaking News
Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

Chico State's independent student newspaper

The Orion

Wildcats upset Seattle Pacific University, improve to 4-1

The
Chico State men’s basketball team upset No.9 ranked Seattle Pacific University
Saturday, 73-70.
Click here to view a photo gallery from the game.
The win followed Chico State’s Friday night clobbering of Dominican University
of California that helped tip off this weekend’s Mac Martin Invitational at Acker
Gymnasium.

mensbasketball054.JPG
The Wildcat men's basketball team beat Seattle Pacific University in the Carl's Jr. Mac Martin Invitational on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013. Amir Carraway scores a field goal early in the first half.Photo credit: Dan Reidel.

After going 18-of-24 from beyond the arc against San Francisco State on Friday,
the Falcons appeared poised to continue its hot shooting streak against the ’Cats.
After rattling home two 3-pointers early in the first, Seattle Pacific
University jumped out to a quick 10-3 lead over the Chico State.

Despite struggling with the road team’s length and crisp ball movement, Chico
State was able to stem the tide, heading into the locker room facing a manageable 36-29
halftime score.

Chico State center Jordan Barton made good on a layup off an assist from forward
Amir Carraway at the 19:44 mark of the second half, keeping the ’Cats in
striking distance by cutting the deficit to five. A layup courtesy of Carraway
with only 3:59 elapsed in the first half effectively brought the game to a
43-43 deadlock.

Stellar offensive execution from Chico State guard Giordano Estrada, who went
5-of-9 from 3-point territory including a four point play opportunity late in
the second, helped keep the ’Cats out front in the closing minutes with a comfortable seven point buffer. Estrada would finish with a game-high 19
points.

The waning seconds of the match would turn into a free-throw shooting contest and
despite a Carraway miss at the charity stripe with nine seconds remaining in the game, Chico State would hold on and come away with an unlikely upset.

It’s sweet revenge for the ‘Cats, who suffered a gut-wrenching 79-47
loss at the hands of the Falcons last season. With Saturday’s win, the ‘Cats now improve to 4-1 on the season.

The Chico State men’s basketball team will try and make it four in a row when
they hit the road to face San Francisco State University Friday, Dec. 6.
The game starts at 7:30.

Taylor Maddox can be reached at [email protected] or @theorion_sports on Twitter.

Leave a Comment
More to Discover

Comments (0)

All The Orion Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *