[Box Score] 

SAN DIEGO – No. 3 seed Chico State fell in overtime, 82-79, to the No. 6 seed Central Washington in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball West Regional.
 
The Wildcats trailed 38-30 at halftime and fell behind as many as 20 points in the second half (61-41 at 11:51) before storming back to force extra time. Chico was down 63-49 with under nine minutes left when they went on a 17-3 run to tie the game at 66-66 with three minutes left. Caden Harris scored eight of his 17 points during the run, and Cortevious Taylor added five.
 
The teams would trade baskets over the next three minutes, with Harris's short jumper being the game-tying basket with just over a minute left. Both teams would miss their final two shots to send the game into overtime.
 
Central Washington hit a 3-pointer to open the extra period and never trailed the rest of the way. Chico would tie the game on three occasions, but CWU answered on the ensuing possession each time to retake the lead. Bradley Swillie put Central Washington back in front with a reverse layup at 00:54 and extended the lead to four with a pair of free throws with 20 seconds remaining.
 
A layup by Jojo Murphy and a missed free throw by CWU would give Chico State a chance to tie the game with 00:08 left. They would get two looks at a game-tying shot, but neither found the bottom of the net, and Chico State fell in overtime.
 
Chico State's Murphy led all scorers with 28 points and four steals. He was 10-of-22 from the field and 8-of-8 from the free throw line. Harris had 17 points, and Trae Taylor added 15.
 
Cavin Holden scored the first 12 points of the game for Central Washington and finished with a team-high 22 points. Garrett Anderson added a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Swillie came off the bench to score 16, and Maverick Sanders added 10.
 
Both teams committed just seven turnovers.
 
Central Washington will advance to play the No. 2 seed, Cal State Dominguez Hills, on Saturday, Mar. 15, at 5 p.m.