SAN FRANCISCO– The SF State Gators had their season opening five-game winning streak snapped in their 74-67 loss to the visiting No. 23 Chico State Wildcats (5-1, 1-0 CCAA) before a crowd of 1,000 in the Gators' Second Annual Purple Out Game.  Coley Apsay led the Gators with 13 points off the bench going 4-for-7 from the field including three of four from three-point land.

Besides Apsay's double-digit performance, the Gators also recorded 9 points each from Nick Calcaterra and Andre Jones while Warren Jackson chipped in 8 points.  Floyd Wormley had 7 assists from the Gators who now are 5-1 overall and 0-1 in the CCAA.

Isaiah Ellis was one of five Wildcats to score in double digits as he had a game high 14 points off the bench.  Chico State out-rebounded the Gators 32-21 and also shot 52% from the field.
The visitors also went 14 for 19 from the charity while the Gators just had 8 attempts from the charity stripe connecting on five of them. SF State's bench outscored the Wildcats' bench 35-27.

The first half was evenly played until the Gators built a 30-21 lead on a three by Andre Jones with a little over 8 minutes left in the half.  They increased that lead to 39-27 on a lay-up by Jon McMurry with just five minutes to go in the first stanza.

Chico State cut the deficit to 41-36 on two made free throws by Jalen McFerren but Warren Jackson's lay-up gave the Gators a 43-36 lead heading in the locker room.

The Wildcats started the second half on a 13-5 run in the first seven minutes to take a 49-48 lead on a dunk by Ellis, but Damien Rance's three gave the Gators the lead back off a pass from Jones on the hosts next possession.

A three by Apsay increased the Gators' lead to 60-51 with 8:20 to go in the game, but Wildcats' Tanner Giddings' three-point play capped a 14-3 run by the visitors as they took a 66-65 lead.

A made jumper by Jackson gave the Gators the lead back at 67-66 with just 2:40 on the clock, but the Wildcats ended the game on an 8-0 run to take the CCAA opener for both teams 74-67.

SF State will look to start another winning streak tomorrow evening when the Gators host Stanislaus State in another CCAA game at The Swamp at The Don Nasser Family Plaza.  Tip-off is set for 7:30pm PST.

Post Game Video

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Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.

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