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SAN FRANCISCO--- The SF State Gators (12-7, 10-5 CCAA) held the visiting Chico State Wildcats to just 35% shooting from the field to key their 63-59 win this evening at The Swamp.
Calvin Otiono paced the Gators with 16 points to go along with his six assists and three steals.
Brandon Tatum chipped in 13 points while
William Overton, Jr. added 11 points for the victors.
“Our guys started to understand our defensive concept,” said SF State head coach
Paul Trevor. “We are continuing to have a total team effort which is we what we strive to do.” “We are becoming a very good basketball team.”
The Gators, who have won three in a row and four of their last five games, took a 10-1 lead in the first four minutes of the game. Chico State (10-9, 7-8 CCAA) outscored the Gators 13-2 in the next six minutes to take a 14-12 lead.
Calvin Otiono's three with 1:36 left in the half gave the Gators a 36-29 lead and then as the buzzer sounded
Winston Demmin's lay-up increased the hosts' lead to 38-29 heading into the locker room.
Otiono made one of two free throws in the first minute of the new stanza to give the Gators their largest lead of the game 39-29.
Chico State chipped away at the Gator lead and finally took the lead, 52-50, on a Jordan Semple jumper with 6:47 to go in the game.
SF State outscored the Wildcats 5-2 in the next two minutes to take a 57-52 lead.
Jason Conrad's dunk with 2:59 left in the game to cut the deficit to 58-56. The Gators once again increased their lead to 61-56 lead on Otiono's two made free throws with just 2:15 on the clock.
Jordan Semple, who led the visitors with 15 points, hit a three to cut the Gator lead to 61-59 with 1:42 to go in regulation. The Wildcats stopped the Gators on their next possession, but SF State's defense came up big; stopping their guests on their next possession with
Decensae White picking up the rebound.
Brandon Tatum then secured the Gators win as he scored off an assist from Otiono to give the Gators a 63-59 victory.
The Gators will look to continue their winnings ways tomorrow evening for another CCAA showdown with Cal State Stanislaus. SF State defeated the Warriors 80-73 earlier this season in Turlock on Jan. 4. The Warriors lost to Sonoma State 65-62 this evening in Rohnert Park.
The Gators are in third place in the CCAA with seven games remaining on the schedule, two games behind second place Cal State San Bernardino and two games ahead of UC San Diego and Cal State L.A. who are tied for fourth place. Cal Poly Pomona remains in first place.
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