TURLOCK – For nine months the Cal State Stanislaus men's basketball team carried the burn in its belly. The Warriors were eager for the opportunity to avenge a traumatizing 81-80 loss to Chico State in last season's NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional title game.
 
For the first seven minutes Saturday night it looked as though they would get their payback. Then the Wildcats slammed the door, delivering another come-from-behind victory at the expense of the Warriors, 59-47.
 
The Wildcats improved to 6-2 on the season and moved into a first-place tie atop the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings with Sonoma State at 3-0. Cal State Stanislaus slipped to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the CCAA.
 

The teams will meet again next Saturday night in Chico. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30.
 
Jordan Semple, Chico State's lone returning starter from last season's NCAA Tournament run, finished with 13 points, 13 rebounds, four blocked shots, two steals and two assists to lead the Wildcats. Corey Silverstrom came off the bench to score 12 points and Robert Duncan had 10.
 
Cal State Stanislaus led Chico State by as many as 18 in the second half and 76-61 with 2:48 to play last March 17 in San Bernardino with a berth in the Elite Eight on the line. But the Wildcats went on a bewildering run, outscoring the Warriors 20-6 down the stretch, and got two free throws from Amir Carraway with two seconds left to win.
 
This time the Wildcats didn't wait quite so long to rally. And this time it was the defense that led the way. After the Warriors burst out of the gates to take an 18-7 lead Chico State held the hosts to just 29 points on 10 baskets in the last 33-plus minutes.
 
The Wildcats outscored Cal State Stanislaus 21-9 over the rest of the half. Semple sparked the response with five points, six rebounds, two assists, a blocked shot and a steal. Duncan delivered eight points and Silverstrom five.
 
After the Warriors took their final lead, 39-38, with 11:14 left, Chico State fashioned a 16-2 run to take control. Tanner Giddings scored four straight points to give them the lead for good, Silverstrom scored four more to stretch it out, and then Mike Rosaroso railed a three before finding Silverstrom for another. By the time Rosaroso made a pair of free throws with 2:33 to play, Chico State's lead was 54-41.
 
GAME NOTES – On the same night Semple moved into 13^th on the school's career scoring list, passing Aaron Martella (1990-94), he also moved past Rich Nelson (1969-72) into second on the school's career rebounding list. Semple sits 28 behind school-record holder Billy Jones…The Wildcats have won eight straight in-conference road games…Chico State is 6-0 this season and 88-19 in the Greg Clink era when holding opponents to sub-45 percent shooting… Duncan, who scored 12 points during his freshman campaign last season, has delivered double-figures in scoring in each of the first eight games of the season…Silverstrom's 12 points matched his career high.