Balanced Scoring Leads College of Idaho to 70-53 Win Over HIU

CALDWELL, Idaho - Four Yotes - Jake O'Neil, Johnny Radford, Samaje Morgan and Straton Rogers - each scored in double figures as College of Idaho defeated Hope International, 70-53 win on the first day of the Taco Bell Shootout.

College of Idaho (3-1) shot 42.3% from the field on its way to the win. O'Neil scored 15 to lead College of Idaho and the Royals of Hope International were paced by a 17 point, 7 rebound effort from Gavin Ramirez.

Radford made three-straight free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt that put the host Yotes ahead 17-16 with 5:51 left in the half. The series of free throws put College of Idaho ahead for the remainder of the contest. 

Radford went on to score 12 and Jake O'Neil scored a team-high 15. Morgan and Rogers each had 10 for College of Idaho. A career-best 10 rebound effort from Caden Handran to go along with eight boards from Rogers led to a 44-35 advantage on the boards.

The three free throws sparked a 14-6 run to end the half for the Yotes, who went into the halftime break with a 31-22 lead. The defensive intensity for College of Idaho spread into the second half as they held the Royals to 32.4% (11-for-34) shooting in the final minutes. The defense turned into an offensive success as College of Idaho shot 46.2% (12-for-26) in the second half. O'Neil scored 11 of his 15 to lead the efforts for the Yotes as C of I led by as much as 22 in the contest.

Next, College of Idaho will face Montana Western in the final game of the Taco Bell Shootout on Saturday at 5 p.m.