POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – Survive and advance was the motto for the College of Idaho and it proved true in the first round of the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship, as the Yotes held on for a 65-64 victory over Dakota State inside Keeter Gymnasium.
The unseeded Trojans (17-15) used an 8-1 run over the final five minutes to have a chance at the victory, but Adam Meger missed a fade-away 10-foot jumper in the paint as the horn sounded, giving C of I their first tournament win since 2004.
"We knew they were going to try to get the ball into (leading scorer) Bryant Allen's hands," C of I head coach Scott Garson said. "We did a great job of switching to deny Allen and Joey Nebeker forced a really tough shot. "
Leading 39-29 at the break, the Coyotes (29-5) took their largest lead of the night on a Demetrius Perkins trey on the opening possession of the second half. A Perkins triple gave the No. 4 seed in the 32 team tournament a 53-43 edge with 11 minutes remaining.
DSU, however, was unfazed – holding C of I without a made field goal over the final five minutes, cutting the gap to 64-62 on an Adam Hofer lay-up. After Josh Wilson split a pair of free throws inside the final 40 seconds, Meger was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 10 seconds to go. The junior made 2-of-3 freebies to pull the Trojans within a point, but after the Yotes missed the front end of a 1-and-1, could not get the winner.
"This was a huge win for our team, but more importantly, it was huge for our school and our program," Garson said. "To get our first win in 11 years at the national tournament is outstanding, but more importantly, it allows us to move on and play another day."
C of I never trailed in the contest, using an early 6-0 run, keyed by baskets by Nebeker and Perkins, to take a 10-4 lead. Triples by Nebeker and Jordan O'Byrne gave the Yotes their largest lead of the first half at 21-10.
Five Coyotes scored in double figures, as Marko Kovacevic, Joe Vaz, and Wilson all scored 11, with Nebeker and Perkins each scoring 10. C of I made 49-percent of their field goal tries, including seven from 3-point range.
The Trojans hit 58-percent of their field goals after halftime and held a 26-24 edge on the glass, but committed a game-high 17 turnovers. Allen led DSU with 15 points; Miguel Sansavour logging 10 points and 10 rebounds; and both Meger and Nathaniel Rauen scoring 10.
C of I advances to meet the winner of tonight's Cardinal Stritch (Wis.)-College of the Ozarks (Mo.) match-up on Friday at 7:30 p.m. (CDT)
