SEASIDE – Mike Baca, the radio play-by-play voice of the Chico State men’s basketball program, described it this way: “It was like they knew something no one else did.” It’s more likely that the Wildcats didn’t know any better. The 10 newcomers didn’t know that Chico State men’s basketball teams aren’t supposed to win back-to-back road games. They didn’t know that they aren’t supposed to come from 17 points behind to win. And they surely didn't know they aren't supposed to do those kinds of things at Cal State Monterey Bay - a place where they have never won.
That ignorance turned into bliss when Jay Flores spun in the lane, went to the rim, and flipped a reverse layup over two defenders, off the glass and through the net for the game-winning basket with two seconds remaining that lifted the Wildcats to a 74-73 win at Cal State Monterey Bay Saturday night.
This year’s team is apparently planning on a different kind of season in 2009-10. The Wildcats improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), notching their largest second-half comeback in more than a decade (17 points) and their largest comeback overall since coming from 20 points down in the first half to beat Willamette on Dec. 22, 2007. The Wildcats are off to their best start since the 2004-05 campaign and they’re 2-0 in conference action for the first time since the 2005-06 season.
Chico State trailed 50-33 at the half but tied the game 58-apiece on Jason Conrad’s second bucket of the half with 10:02 remaining that capped a 25-8 run. After the lead changed hands for the seventh time in those final 10 minutes on Sean Jergo’s two free throws with 9.2 seconds to play, Flores got the inbounds pass and went the length of the floor. The play drawn up during a timeout called for him to pass to Damario Sims or Jon Baird, but when neither player came open, Flores spun 180-degrees into the lane with a right hand dribble and flipped the ball up with his right hand. He spun it of the glass to the right of the bucket, and it bounced softly off the rim and through the net.
Composed amidst the excitement, Sims played like a defensive back and intercepted a full-court pass to seal the victory.
“This is one of the greatest college basketball games I’ve ever been associated with,” said Wildcats Head Coach Greg Clink. “Being down 17 points at half time, these guys… the belief they had that they could come back and fight and win. It’s all them. They executed everything to a T.”
And they executed most everything through T – as in Terence Pellum. The transfer from Foothill Community College exploded for 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting while also finishing with five rebounds, three steals, and a blocked shot.
“What a warrior (Pellum) is,” said Clink. “We just went to him time and time again. They couldn’t stop him inside.”
Jon Baird added 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Flores finished with seven points, eight rebounds and five assists. Sims and Conrad, both freshmen, combined for 15 points off the bench.
The Wildcats are back in action this Thursday when they host Pacific Union College. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 pm.
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