SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco State men's basketball team used another strong defensive effort to shut down visiting Chico State 65-49 on Saturday afternoon at the Main Gym at Don Nasser Family Plaza. The conference's top scoring defense (62.0 ppg) lowered that mark to 60.1 points per game with an effort that saw Chico State limited to 28.8 percent shooting (17-of-59).
- Jiday Ugbaja scored a season-high 16 points, two shy of his career-high. He had nine at the half.
- Ryne Williams followed up his career night with 12 points and six rebounds.
- Chiefy Ugbaja added seven points and a game-high seven rebounds.
- Saturday marked the third time this season that San Francisco State has held an opponent to under 50 points and the second time the Gators have held an opponent to 28.8 percent.
- San Francisco State held Chico State to just 22 points in the first half, the lowest allowed in a half since holding the Wildcats to 11 in a 67-38 victory last February.
- In the first half, the two teams mad just one three-pointer each and went a combined 2-of-20.
- San Francisco State's two first-half turnovers were the fewest in a half since committing just four in a loss to Cal Poly Pomona last February.
- Chico State didn't have a single player in double-digit scoring. Isaiah Brooks scored a team-high nine points.
- Malik Duffy led all players with eight rebounds in the loss.
The Gators defense stifled the Wildcats, who went just 24.1 percent (7-of-29) in the first half, though the Gators didn't shoot the ball much better at 34.4 percent (11-of-32). After allowing the first basketball of the the game, the Gators never trailed again after the first half minute. The Wildcats kept the game close with a 26-28 rebounding advantage.
Up five, the Gators went on an 8-0 run in the span of a minute and a half to extend the lead to 13. From there, the Wildcats got no closer than 11 and San Francisco State grew the lead to as large as 22 with five minutes to go. San Francisco State's offense improved in the second half as the Gators shot 57.1 percent (16-of-28) from the field and emptied the bench.
In November, the devastating Camp Fire struck Butte County and the Chico State community. Chico State has established the Wildcats Rise Recovery Fund. Donations to this fund will support students, faculty, and staff in need of aid for clothing and household goods, electronics such as phones and laptops, transportation, childcare assistance, temporary housing, school supplies, or meal assistance. To help in the recovery efforts, visit sfstategators.com/campfire or text WildcatsRise74 to 71777.
The Gators head south to No. 16 UC San Diego on Thursday, December 6 and to Cal State San Marcos on Saturday, December 8 for two games, then are back in town December 13 when a three-game homestand begins starting with Cal State San Bernardino. Live stats and video will be available, and be sure to follow San Francisco State men's basketball on Twitter and Instagram at @sfstate_mbb.
