KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Sophomore guard
Samaje Morgan scored 20 of his career-high 27 points in the second half to propel No. 2 College of Idaho to a 78-75 win over host Oregon Tech on Saturday. He is the fifth Yote to shoot and make all 12 of their free-throw attempts in program history. The last to do that was Bryan Champ, who made all 12 against Corban on January 17, 2009. College of Idaho made 28 free throws in the game, its most since they made 29 at Montana Tech on October 26, 2019.
The win raises the record for College of Idaho to 6-2 overall and 1-1 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, whereas Oregon Tech has an identical mark after the loss.
Oregon Tech shot 55.6% from the field in the final 20 minutes in the loss. Five-different Owls had double figure scoring efforts with Jamison Guerra leading the efforts with 19 points. He was joined in double digits by Keegan Shivers, who added 13, Erik Fraser scored 12, Jay Elmore provided 11 off the bench and Kam Osborn recorded 10.
For College of Idaho, Morgan was joined in double figures by
Johnny Radford, who made his first start of the season with 15 points to go along with a pair of 11-point efforts from
Tyler Robinett and
Straton Rogers.
College of Idaho scored the final five points of the first half when Morgan knocked down a 3-pointer and a layup by Rogers put the visitors ahead 32-28 at the halftime break. Later in the game with OIT holding a 49-47 lead after a pair of free throws by Osborn with 9:37 left in the contest, Morgan singlehandedly went on an 8-2 run to put College of Idaho ahead for the remainder of the contest.
Twice, C of I stretched the lead to as much as nine but a comeback opportunity came up short when a last-second 3 pointer attempt by Jamison Guerra came up short.
Next, College of Idaho will face NNU in Nampa in an exhibition contest on Wednesday night with the Mayor's Cup on the line as the Yotes have won the last three meetings between the two local rivals. The game is set to tip off at 7:05 p.m.
