The Chico State men’s basketball team kept its season alive Friday, knocking off Montana State-Billings 78-64 in the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament at Cal State Los Angeles.
All five starters scored in double figures for the sixth-seeded Wildcats (21-8), who rallied from a 32-31 halftime deficit to upset the third-seeded Yellowjackets (20-10).
Kelvin Wright Jr. led the way for the winners with 16 points and 13 rebounds, both team highs. Miles Daniels and Jojo Murphy had 15 points apiece and Joshua Hamilton and Adam Afifi both had 12.
Montana State’s Famous Lefthand was the game’s leading scorer with 17 points.
Chico State won the game with a 47-point outburst in the second half. The Wildcats hit 53% of their shots after intermission.
The Wildcats will face the winner of Friday’s Cal State San Bernardino-Alaska Anchorage game on Saturday at 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast on KPAY (1290 AM and 102.9 FM).
