College of Idaho caps magical season with second NAIA national title in program history

The College of Idaho men’s basketball team stretched its winning streak to 36 games and made history on Saturday.

The No. 1 Yotes topped No. 2 Indiana Tech, 73-71, in the NAIA national championship game in Kansas City, Missouri.

It’s College of Idaho’s second national title in program history. The Yotes last won it in 1996, but this season and this championship is special, head coach Colby Blaine said.

“This is the toughest team I’ve ever coached,” he said after the game. “They’re the most mature and the the toughest, and they deserve this.”

College of Idaho (36-1) hasn’t lost a game since a 82-78 setback in the season opener at Arizona Christian on Nov. 4.

The Yotes earned a shot at the title after winning a first-round game in the NAIA Tournament for the seventh year in a row. They also survived a furious rally by Ottawa University (Arizona) in the semifinals on Friday.

“We’re brothers for life,” College of Idaho guard Charles Elzie said after the game. “We move as a pack.”

College of Idaho jumped out to a 10-2 lead Saturday after Middleton native Tyler Robinett opened the game 3-for-3 from 3-point range. He finished the night with 11 points.

The Yotes led, 34-12, after freshman Samaje Morgan came off the bench and notched three of his seven first-half points from beyond the arc. He finished the game with 13 points after posting 12 in the semifinals on Friday.

The Yotes led 45-26 at halftime after shooting 56.7% from the floor and 5-for-5 from 3-point range and out rebounding the Warriors 27-12.

Elzie, who posted a team-high 21 points in the semifinals, knocked down a three to stretch the lead to 52-29 early in the second half. He finished the game with 10 points.

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Indiana Tech (32-5) wouldn’t go away, though.

The Warriors cut the Yotes’ lead to 70-72 with 46 seconds to play. Grant Smith got fouled and had a chance to tie the game with 11 seconds to play, but he only hit one free throw, leaving Warriors down one.

College of Idaho’s Drew Wyman hit a free throw to give the Yotes their 73-71 lead with nine seconds to play, and the Warriors couldn’t connect on a last-second shot.

“What a comeback by Indiana Tech,” Blaine said. “Kudos to our guys for having the grit to withstand that and win the game.”

Fruitland native Jake O’Neil led the Yotes Saturday with 15 points and 12 rebounds. He also posted a double-double (21 points and 11 rebounds) in the Yotes’ second-round game against Xavier of Louisiana.

Rog Stein led Indiana Tech with 18 points before fouling out in the final minutes of regulation. Max Perez and Blake Davison both finished with 12 points.