STOCKTON — Make that four straight for fourth seed Cal State Stanislaus. The Warriors extend their winning streak to four games for the 2014-15 season as well as winning their fourth consecutive CCAA tournament game, this time at the Stockton Arena Thursday night.

The Warriors, making their fourth conference tournament appearance, defeated UC San Diego, 61-46 to advance to Friday's semifinal match-up against top-seed and regular season champion Chico State. Friday's game is at 5:35 p.m. The Warriors and the Wildcats will meet for the seventh time in 16 months. The rivals met twice in the 2014 postseason.

"We're different ballclubs since we haven't seen each other since December," said head coach Larry Reynolds about another match-up against Chico State. "I think the game tomorrow will be enjoyable because it's two good ballclubs going at each other."
Senior experience was definitely key for the Stanislaus side Thursday night as Rob Walters and Wes Bartole both notched double-doubles and Tyler Barber chipped in 12 points with four three-pointers. Walters scored 13 points and pulled 11 rebounds and Bartole netted 10 with 10 boards to lead Stanislaus.

It is Walters' third consecutive double-double as he and Bartole controlled the paint. The Warriors (18-10) out-rebounded the Tritons (16-11), 38-29 and scored 28 points in the paint (UCSD had 16).

With seven of the 11 players on the current roster part of last season's CCAA tournament title run, the Warriors seem to know just the right places to be and just the right things to do in the second half to decide the game.

UC San Diego had the upper-hand in the first half with a lead as large as six points but held only a one-point, 25-24 lead at the break. Cal State Stanislaus, though, controlled the entire second half.

A 8-2 run to start the second half put the Warriors in the driver's seat and that lead eventually grew as large as 14 points after a 9-0 run that was started by a Barber trey.

One of the biggest differences from Thursday night's game and the Feb. 7 double-overtime game were the three-pointers. UCSD made 10 that night, including some late long bombs that extended that contest back at Fitzpatrick Arena. In the CCAA tournament game, the Tritons were just 5 of 19 and 1 for 10 in the second half.

Cal State Stanislaus held UCSD to its second lowest points total in the season en route to the Warriors' 10th victory over the Tritons in the last 11 meetings.

Bartole, who spent last season as a redshirt supported the title run from the bench, was able to contribute this time around.

"It's awesome (to be a part of it this time). It's something I can't really describe," Bartole said. "It was something I told myself this offseason to work hard to do everything I can do to get healthy and be on the court with somebody like Rob. To see how hard he plays I just want to come out and match what he does."

To go with his 10-point, 10-rebound night, Bartole also had five assists, two blocks and a steal. Two other Warrior seniors — Shey Mataele and Chris Read — each chipped in nine points. Walters also had four assists.

Drew Dyer led UC San Diego with 10 points and eight rebounds, but the Tritons shot just 33.3 percent on the night.