A trip to the Elgin Baylor Tip-Off Classic dealt a rebuilding men's basketball program two more losses, but optimism and on-and-off-the-court spirit grew over the weekend.
Head coach Greg Clink's new group of Wildcats headed to Seattle to take on Division I foe Seattle University late Saturday afternoon and gave the favored Redhawks all they could handle.
Chico State handled Seattle University deep into the second half, obtaining a nine-point lead with less than nine minutes to go. The Wildcats were poised to make an upset that could propel the program into a strenuous conference schedule.
Instead, the host Redhawks scratched and clawed their way back into the game, erasing the Wildcats' advantage with a 19-5 run and eventually closing it out with a 61-58 win.
Junior Canyon Miller drained a three for the 'Cats late to cut the lead to two, but it was the closest Chico State would get.
Senior forward Andy Bocian led the way for the 'Cats offensively, shooting 69 percent from the field, posting 24 points.
"It was a good experience," Clink said. "I thought we had moments where we played very well."
Bad decisions on offense "put us on our heels," Clink said.
However, assistant coach Gus Argenal had a different prognosis for the Wildcats' second-half woes.
"Our defensive intensity went away," Argenal said. "The aggression went down."
Senior forward Robert Ash, a transfer from Cal State Monterey Bay, knows what tournaments such as the Elgin Baylor can do for a club getting to know each other, he said.
One play can make a difference in a highly contested game such as the one against Seattle, Ash said, referring to a lack of another shot after Miller's. So the Wildcats had reason to keep their heads held high heading into the next round.
The Wildcats followed the loss Sunday when they took on St. Martin's University in the second round of the tournament, only to taste defeat once again.
This contest wasn't as close, St. Martin's took down the 'Cats handily, 86-69.
Junior forward Chris Sharp and senior point guard Junior Russell had 13 points apiece, while Bocian reached double digits, too, with 10 points.
Clink acknowledges the weekend was tough for the younger men on his team without tournament experience.
"These new guys aren't used to playing back-to-back," Clink said.
Despite the losses, the Wildcats knew the weekend's experience would be beneficial to their development as a team and as a California Collegiate Athletic Association postseason contender.
"It is always a challenge to play on the road," Ash said. "We need to get ready to do it again next weekend."
Next up for Chico State is the Western Oregon/Phoenix Inn Tournament on the road in Salem, Ore., Friday and Saturday.
Thomas Lawrence can be reached at tlawrence@theorion.com
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