CHICO, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men’s basketball team fell victim to a half-court buzzer beater in an 83-82 loss to No. 22 Chico State in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play on Saturday night at Acker Gym.

Darnell Taylor put CSUSM ahead by two with a pair of free throws with 1.2 seconds left and it appeared the Cougars would improve their unbeaten conference record, but CSUC’s Jalen McFerren’s desperation heave from behind the half-court stripe found the bottom of the net to provide the Wildcats the last laugh.

CCCA-favorite Chico State improves to 9-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play. The Cougars, who were playing their first CCAA road game, fall to 4-4 overall and 2-1 CCAA.

Taylor, the reigning CCAA Player of the Week, led the Cougars with team highs of 17 points, six rebounds and five assists. Akachi Okugo, Taran Brown and Andrew Bournes each had 13 points.

The Wildcats’ Drew Kitchens scored a game-high 18 points. McFerren finished with 15 points.

The Cougars led by as many as 11 points with 10:04 remaining in the second half, but a 7-2 run by CSUC pulled the Wildcats within two possessions.

A jumper from Declan Daly off a dish from Taylor made it 80-77 with 1:16 to play.

However, McFerren hit his first 3-pointer of the night on the next trip down the floor to force a tie with 1:04 left.

The teams traded empty possessions and the Cougars had an opportunity for what they thought was the game’s last possession. Robert Duncan fouled Taylor with less than two seconds remaining and the Taylor made his eighth and ninth free throws of the night.

Tanner Giddens inbounded the ball to McFerren and the rest is history.

CSUSM faces No. 14 UC San Diego next Sunday, Dec. 20 at RIMAC Arena.