TURLOCK — The Stanislaus State men's basketball team's 2021-22 schedule has been a test from the beginning, especially for a roster with only one senior on it.
 
The test continued Saturday, as the Warriors got no breaks when they opened California Collegiate Athletic Association play against undefeated and No. 12-ranked Chico State. The Wildcats stormed out of the gate and ran away with a 72-44 decision over the Warriors at Fitzpatrick Arena.
 
Chico State (5-0, 1-0 CCAA) was firing on all cylinders from the tip. The offense sank its first three shots – including two 3-pointers – and four of its first six to jump out to a 12-3 lead. It would shoot 55.2% in the first half alone, including going 7 for 16 (43.8%) from 3-point range. The defense didn't give Stanislaus State (2-3, 0-1 CCAA) anything, holding it to only four field goals on 27 tries (14.8%) in the first 20 minutes. The Warriors were 1 for 10 from 3-point range in the first half, the only trey coming two minutes into the game from Tony Singleton to give the Warriors their first points.
 
Stanislaus State's offense was much improved in the second half, shooting nearly 50% percent (11 for 23) and scoring 31 points compared to 13 in the first. Tony Singleton finished with a team-high 13 points. Will Pallesi was also in double figures with 11. Chico State had three double-figure scorers in Malik Duffy (15), Joshua Hamilton (13) and Isaiah Brooks (11).
 
Chico State grabbed a foothold of the game early, leading by double digits already at the 13:36 mark of the first half, getting it to a 20-point lead with 6:55 left, and hitting a 3-pointer before the halftime buzzer to head into the break with a 28-point, 41-13 lead. The Wildcats' biggest lead of the game was 36 points in the second half after Brooks hit one of his three 3-pointers to make it 65-29 with 8:39 left to play.
 
The Warriors' season schedule test continues next week when they have to go on the road to two more nationally ranked opponents – making it three consecutive nationally ranked foes to start their CCAA schedule. Stanislaus State travels to current No. 11/22 Cal Poly Pomona on Thursday, then heads to undefeated and current No. 21/19 Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday (rankings are National Association of Basketball Coaches/Division II Sports Information Directors of America). Fans can find all live coverage links on WarriorAthletics.com.