2022-23 Men's Basketball Notebook (at Corban and at Bushnell)

ASCENDING TO THE TOP: The Yotes ascended to the No. 1 spot from the No. 3 spot, in the latest NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll. College of Idaho, who had spent the latest ranking at the No. 3 spot, picked up 17 first-place votes with a 14-1 record. It is the first time in program history that in the single-division poll that College of Idaho finds itself at the top. College of Idaho was ranked No. 1 in the final three NAIA Men's Basketball Division II polls in 2019-20 before CoVID canceled the NAIA Winter Championships. The Yotes were also ranked No. 1 in the Division II for a week in 2018-19. Plus, they were ranked No. 1 in the preseason and in the first poll of the 1991-92 season.. Complete poll is on page four. 
 
IS THERE AN AREA CODE? College of Idaho has made 126 3-pointers on the 2022-23 season. Nine-different Yotes have hit a three pointer on the season with Johnny Radford knocking down a team-high 43 of 85 (45.9%) of his attempts. For his career, Radford has made 111 3-pointers which ranks 29th in program history. He is the 32nd different Coyote to make over 100 3-pointers. Against Northwest, it was the first time in 2022-23 that Radford had been held without a 3-pointer. 

Next on the list
27.  116 - Scott Eschner (58 games) - 1996-98
28.  112 - Matt Muniz (64 games) - 1997-99

STRONG START TO SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN: Sophomore Straton Rogers has increased his production in his second full season with the Yotes from 4.6 to 19.1 minutes per game; 1.3 to 7.3 points per game and 1.8 to 8.9 rebounds per game. Rogers has scored at least six points in 13 of 14 games and had at least eight rebounds in 12 of 14 contests.

BOARD GAME: College of Idaho outrebounded Evergreen and Northwest by 60 rebounds (111-to-51). The Yotes pulled down 31 offensive boards compared to just 12 for their opponents. Straton Rogers and Tyler Robinett each grabbed eight rebounds in the win over Evergreen. Rogers pulled down 12 more boards against Northwest. On six occasions, on the season, Rogers and Jake O'Neil have each grabbed double-digit rebounds in a contest to lead College of Idaho.

SAMAJE CLAUS: Freshman Samaje Morgan is averaging 4.3 assists per game. The last Yote to average more assists per game was Talon Pinckney, who averaged 5.4 assists per game in 2017-18. Morgan gave out 10 assists in a win over Madonna. The 10 assists are the most since a 10-assist game by Pinckney on December 15, 2017 against Corban.

HOME SWEET HOME: With wins over Evergreen and Northwest, College of Idaho extended its home winning streak to 29 games. Since the start of the 2013-14 season, College of Idaho has posted a 143-16 record. Last season, the Yotes posted a 20-1 mark at home surpassing the 2019-20 team that finished 18-1 at home, with both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 teams finishing 17-0. Since the Activities Center opened in 1991, the Yotes have recorded a 358-99 all-time record – with the mark ballooning to 475-108 when accounting the previous decade at O'Connor Fieldhouse. 

MORE ON THE WIN OVER WALLA WALLA: The 118 points tie for the 10th most in a single game in program history; the 48 field goals made are the 8th most in a single game and the 64% shooting from the field ranks 14th best in a single contest.

GETTING TO THE LINE: College of Idaho has made 220 free throws on 315 attempts. Opponents have got to the line for 212 attempts on the season. Five of the last six seasons, the Yotes have made more free throws than their opponents. College of Idaho was limited to a season-low seven attempts against Lewis-Clark State on December 31. The fewest its made in a game since they were limited to three against Northwestern (Iowa) on March 11, 2020.

YOU'VE BEEN PAUL'D: Junior Paul Wilson has 77 career rejections which ranks 11th all-time in program history. Wilson matched a season-high with four rejections against Warner Pacific.