College of Idaho Advances to Fab Four with 83-66 Win Over Tougaloo

Kansas City, Mo. - The road to the round of eight featured a College of Idaho team on a 33-game winning streak and a Tougaloo squad on a 20-game winning streak. A 25-4 run to end the first half demonstrated why the streak for the Yotes will continue in an 83-66 rout of the Bulldogs to send College of Idaho to the Fab Four for the first time since 2019.
 
College of Idaho (34-1), who have set a new school record with 34 wins, was led by sophomore Jake O'Neil, who scored 16 first half points en route to 20 points. It was the fourth time that the Fruitland native has scored at least 20 points in a game. As the story has been all season long, it was not a one-person show as he was joined in double figures by junior Charles Elzie (11 pts.). Sophomore Drew Wyman had eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with five assists, plus freshman Samaje Rogers had eight points and four assists.
 
Tougaloo (31-2) was led by Antonio Patterson and Cameron Copeland, who had 17 and 14 points, respectively. Copeland had 13 of his 14 in the second half and Patterson had 11 of his 17 in the first half to lead the Bulldogs.

2022-23 Cascade Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year Colby Blaine called a timeout with the Yotes down 19-18 after a layup by Patterson with 9:23 left in the first half. The veteran coach had the right message for his veteran squad as they answered with a game-deciding 25-4 run to end the first half as the Yotes lead 43-23 at the break. The 20-point lead was not unfamiliar territory as it was the 11^th time in 2022-23 that College of Idaho has led the Yotes by at least 20 points at the break.

The Yotes scored nine of the first 11 points to begin the second half on its way to the win. The hot shooting for College of Idaho continued as they shot 54.5% from the field in the final 20 minutes. Elzie scored nine of his 11 and Straton Rogers added seven for College of Idaho, who led by as much as 29 in the second 20 minutes.

Saturday's opponent will be OUAZ, who the Yotes defeated for their first win on the season on Nov. 5 will be on Friday, Mar. 17 at 4 p.m. (MT)/5 p.m.(CST). The Spirit and Yotes are familiar in the postseason with one another as College of Idaho posted a 57-52 win in the NAIA Second Round in 2022 in Caldwell.