AZUSA – A myriad of emotions swirl around a locker room when a season comes to an end. A deep sadness and sense of shock are the most obvious. At times the only sound is someone quietly sobbing in a hidden nook or corner. Frustration and anger are often boiling just beneath the surface.
 
But it was gratitude that rose the top for the Chico State men's basketball team after the Wildcats' 67-61 loss to California Baptist in the NCAA Championship Tournament opener Friday at Felix Event Center on the campus of Azusa Pacific. The tears were not about the end result of a game, but the end of an unprecedented four-year run.
 

"It's been remarkable. A family," fifth-year senior Jordan Barton said. "I think what we have is really rare. It's something I know a lot of college basketball players have not experienced."
 
Barton, Jordan Semple and Mike Rosaroso played their final collegiate game, finishing a four-year NCAA Tournament run with 92 wins.
 
"I am extremely proud and grateful to have shared this journey with these guys," Head Coach Greg Clink said. "I couldn't be more proud of what they've accomplished over these last four years."
 
The Wildcats rallied from a double-digit deficit to beat Cal Baptist in the opening round of last season's NCAA Tournament and went on to win the program's first ever West Regional title.
 
They threatened to do the same Friday, trimming a 14-point second-half deficit to four. But they couldn't quite get all the way back. Missed layups, turnovers and the Lancers' 21 second-chance points proved too much to overcome.
 
"It just didn't go our way in the end," Semple said. "It just wasn't our day under the basket. The layups weren't going down. We had the right game plan and we did everything we wanted to except make the layups."
Semple finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots, breaking Aaron Martella's 21-year-old career double-doubles record in the progress with the 22^nd of his career. Robert Duncan had 12 points and Drew Kitchens 10. Freshman Isaiah Ellis chipped in eight points and eight rebounds.
 
The Wildcats, 2014-15 champions of the California Collegiate Athletic Association, finished the season with a record of 22-8.

 
Barton finished with three points and seen rebounds while Rosaroso had four points and two assists.
 
The Wildcats will return nine letterwinners next season, but Barton, Semple and Rosaroso will surely be missed.
 
Semple set school records in career rebounds (927), blocked shots (153) and double-doubles (22) and ranks third all-time with 139 steals and seventh in scoring with 1,300 points.
 
Rosaroso worked his way from the end of the bench as a freshman to the team's foremost leader, setting the tone for this season with his fearless play and ferocious defense.
 
Barton's unique rebounding prowess and passion made him a crowd favorite.
 
Those fans have plenty to be grateful for as well.
 
Despite being picked to finish fourth in the conference, the senior trio took the Wildcats to the conference title and back to the NCAA Tournament.