MONMOUTH, Ore. – The penultimate chapter in the story of the Chico State men's basketball team's 2015-16 season turned out to be the best. But it is still one heck of a story.
 
The Wildcats won back-to-back conference titles for the first time in more than two decades, boasted the program's best ever record through games 25 and 26, and advanced to the NCAA Championship Tournament for a school record fifth straight campaign.
 
That special season ended with three losses in a row, including Friday's 76-64 loss to UC San Diego in the opening round of the NCAA Championship Tournament on the campus of Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon.
 
"I feel like we peaked at the end of the season," said Wildcats Head Coach Greg Clink, the California Collegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year. "We lost something from a basketball standpoint. As a coach you try to figure our why there's slippage. We just lost our consistency. I can't explain it. Something was missing. It's surely something I've been trying to figure out.
 
"But I'm also really proud. Back-to-back CCAA titles and a fifth-straight NCAA Championship berth is a lot to be proud of."
 
The Wildcats' defense was what was missing Friday – at least until the latter stages of the first half.
 
UC San Diego enjoyed ample space to shoot and took advantage, sinking eight of its first 10 and 16 of its first 23 shots to build a 15-point lead. UC San Diego's 76 points are the third most scored against the Wildcats all season.
 
Chico State tightened things up and played better over the final 22 minutes, but never fully recovered.
 
The Wildcats got as close as seven with seven minutes left before and Corey Silverstrom's 3-pointer that would have really tightened the screws rattled in and out. Adam Klie was fouled shooting a three on the other end and sank all three free throws to put the Tritons back in control.
 
Chico State finished its season 22-7. Fifth-year senior Chris Magalotti (the first Wildcat ever to be part of five straight NCAA Championship teams) and Tanner Giddings played their last game in a Chico State uniform. Magalotti finished with eight points and a career-high nine rebounds. Giddings had 13 points and six rebounds.
 
"It's been an absolute pleasure to coach these two," Clink said, sitting with Magalotti and Giddings in the postgame interview room. "I told Mags in the locker room that it seems like he's been with us forever. It's hard to see them go. But they did a phenomenal job with basketball but even more-so as people."
 
Robert Duncan – the CCAA's Player of the Year – led the Wildcats with 19 points and chipped in seven rebounds and three assists.
 
As many as 10 Wildcats could return next season, including Duncan, fellow First Team All-CCAA selection Isaiah Ellis, Corey Silverstrom (Second Team All-CCAA) and Jalen McFerren (honorable mention All-CCAA).
 
UC San Diego leading scorers Drew Dyer and Klie, who the Wildcats limited to a combined 18 points on 5-of-19 shooting in their only other meeting this season, had their way with the Wildcats Friday. Dyer had 13 points in the first half and finished with a game-high 22. Klie had 20 points.
 
The Tritons (23-7) will face California Baptist in a West Regional semifinal Saturday.