CHICO – A memorable night for Chico State freshman Damario Sims was forgettable in every other way for the Wildcats in a 55-40 loss to visiting Cal State Dominguez Hills Saturday night in Acker Gym. Sims notched career highs with 16 points and 10 rebounds but the Wildcats were held to their lowest point total since a 77-37 loss to DePaul University on Dec. 4, 1988. The last time a non-NCAA Division I team displayed such defensive dominance against the Wildcats came during the 1952-53 season when Pasadena Nazarene beat them 50-32.
If the Wildcats need an understanding ear they can call the coaches and players at Cal State Stanislaus, which Dominguez Hills held to a school-record low 41 points Friday night.
Chico State shot just 22.6 percent from the floor – the Wildcats’ lowest percentage since joining the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) for the 1998-99 season – including 7.7 percent on their 3-point attempts (2-of-26). The Toros blocked eight shots and changed many more with their length and pressure.
Chico State fell to 6-5 and from tied for third to tied for sixth in the CCAA standings at the halfway point of the conference schedule. The Wildcats are now 10-6 overall. Cal State Dominguez Hills improved to 7-4 in the CCAA and moved into a third-place tie with Cal State L.A. and Cal Poly Pomona. The Toros, winners of seven of nine since losing their first five games of the season, improved to 7-9 overall.
Chico State missed its first 11 shots while falling behind 13-1. After Sims’ layup six-plus minutes into the game gave them their first field goal of the night, they missed eight of the next nine shots as the deficit ballooned to 19-5.
The Wildcats closed the half with an 18-6 run sparked by Sims’ 10 points. He finished with 12 points and eight rebounds in the half. That cut Dominguez Hills’ lead to 25-23 and gave the Wildcats hope heading into the second half.
Those hopes were then suffocated by a Toros defense that held Chico State to only two field goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half. And when Jay Flores made the Wildcats’ third basket of the half, they were down 48-33 and the game was out of reach.
Terence Pellum was the only other Chico State player in double-figures with 10 points. Michael Cox paced Cal State Dominguez Hills with 14 points, seven rebounds, and three blocked shots.
Chico State starts the second half of conference play at home against Cal State Monterey Bay and San Francisco State next Friday and Saturday night, respectively. Tipoff for both contests is scheduled for 7:30.
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