SAN FRANCISCO--- In thanks to Nefi Perdomo going 7 of 10 from the free throw line, the SF State Gators held on to defeat the visiting Chico State Wildcats 64-62 in their regular season home finale. Pacing the Gaotrs (16-10, 14-8 CCAA) was Winston Demmin with 15 points and 14 rebounds off the bench. Phoenix O'Rourke and Ralph Nevarez each chiped in 11 points.
"This is a great class and a great bunch of guys," said SF State Head Coach Paul Trevor about his six seniors. "Our guys played their butts off this evening and we got back to playing Gator hoops," added Trevor. "All season long our guys stepped led by our co-captains Phoenix O'Rourke and Marquel Hoskins," noted Trevor. "To finish in the top four in the CCAA puts SF State back on the map."
SF State took a 23-16 lead with five minutes to go in the first half on a made free throw by Nevarez. Chico State (14-12, 10-12 CCAA) cut the Gator lead to 27-22 with 39 seconds left on a lay-up by Damario Sims but Nevarez' lay-up of an assist by Nefi Perdomo gave SF State a 29-22 going into the locker room.
The Gators outscored the Wildcats 12-5 in the first four minutes of the second half keyed by seven points by O'Rourke to take a 41-27 lead.
Chico State chipped away at the hosts lead and finally tied it at 51-51 on a three by Sean Park with 3:18 to go in regulation. On the Wildcats' next possession, Jay Flores hit a three to give Chico State a 54-51 lead with 2:19 to go. SF State cut the Wildcat lead to 54-53 as Demmin hit a jumper off of one of Marqeul Hoskins' six assists.
SF State then fouled Damario Sims, who just made 1-of-2 free throws to make it 55-53. The Gators missed a jumper on their next possession but Demmin grabbed the offensive reboound and was fouled. He made both free throws to tie the game at 55-55 with 65 seconds left in regulation.
The Wildcats had two chances to win the game, but the Gator defense held to send the game into overtime.
In the overtime, the Gators scored the first six points (four on free throw by Perdomo) to take a 61-55 lead. Pellum's lay-up with 1:12 to go cut the Gator lead to 61-57.
Perdomo then connected on both free throws to increase their lead to 63-57, but Sims hit another three to cut the lead to 63-60 with 45 seconds left in the first overtime. SF State missed a three on its possession and Sims hit two free throws to cut the Gator lead to 63-62 with five seconds to go. Perdomo was fouled on the Gators' next possesion and he made one of two free throws to increase the Gator lead to 64-62, which they held on for the conference win.
Sims finished with 20 points as did Roderick Hawkins for Chico State.
SF State will host Cal Poly Pomona in the First Round of the CCAA Basketball Championships this Tues., March 1 at 7pm.
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