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(Chico State photo)
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Tip Time: 6:06 p.m. MST, McKale Center
TV: Pac-12 Networks (J.B. Long/Steve Lavin)
Radio: Arizona IMG Sports Network (Brian Jeffries/Ryan Hansen)
CHICO STATE QUICK FACTS
Nickname/Colors: Wildcats/Cardinal and White
National Affiliation: NCAA Division II
Conference: California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)
Gymnasium/Capacity: Acker Gym/1,997
Head Coach: Greg Clink, 8th year (Chico State, ’94)
Record at Chico State: 129-80 (7 years)
Career Record: 129-80 (7 years)
2014-15 Season Record: 22-8 (18-4, CCAA Champions for the second time in four years)
Reached the NCAA Championship Tournament for the fourth consecutive season
Starters: Returning/Lost — 3/2
Letterwinners: Returning/Lost — 9/3
Top Returners:
Robert Duncan (G, Jr., 6-3, Granite Bay) … First Team All-CCAA and Second Team All-West Region selection in 2014-15…Led Wildcats in scoring (13.9 ppg), assists (69) and free throws (84)…Shot 55 percent.
Tanner Giddings (F, Sr., 6-10, Windsor) … Fresno State transfer…Second Team All-CCAA selection in 2014-15…Averaged 7.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Drew Kitchens (G, Sr., 6-4, Carlsbad) … Averaged 7.3 points per game…Led the team with 37 made 3-pointers…Shot 35 percent from beyond the arc.
Top Newcomers:
Justin Briggs (C, Fr., 6-9, West Sacramento) … Prep standout from River City High School…The 31st ranked player in the class of 2015 according to NorCalPreps.com…Averaged 14 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots per game.
Jesse Holmes (G, Fr., 6-2, Chico) … Transfer from Air Force Academy Prep…Scored 1,133 points while leading the Chico High School Panthers to a 75-13 record in his three varsity seasons.
Vinnie Safin (G, Fr., 6-4, Rocklin) … Starred at Rocklin High School…Considered dynamic scorer with a strong 3-point shot.
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Site founder and award-winning sports journalist Javier Morales has published his first e-book, “The Highest Form of Living”, a fiction piece about a young man who overcomes a troubled upbringing without his lost father and wayward mother through basketball and hope. His hope is realized through the sport he loves. Basketball enables him to get past his fears. His experience on the court indirectly brings him closer to his parents in a unique, heartfelt way. Please order it at Amazon (for only $4.99) by clicking on the photo:
Former UCLA and St. John’s coach Steve Lavin makes his return to McKale Center tonight as a Pac-12 Networks analyst.
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He has also written articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.
