2022-23 Men's Basketball Notebook (NAIA Finals)

Men's Basketball | 3/17/2023 10:08:00 PM

First Meeting vs. Indiana Tech
Note between College of Idaho and Indiana Tech - the two teams played against one another in baseball in 1998 with the Yotes, then known as Albertson College, won its only national title.

FAB FOUR UPDATE: The 73-72 win over OUAZ advanced College of Idaho to the finals for the first time since 1996

FINAL HISTORY
1996 - College of Idaho 81, Whitworth 72 (OT)

JUST WIN BABY:  With 35-straight wins, College of Idaho has the longest active winning streak in college men's basketball. As of Mar. 9, South Carolina (NCAA Division I) is 32-0 (with six at the end 2021-22 have won its last 39) has the most consecutive wins in college basketball. The 35 wins by College of Idaho are a school record and the most in the NAIA.

STATISTICAL RANKINGS:
12.4 - 3rd - Rebound margin per game
32.4 - 4th - FG made per game
42.9 - 4th - Total rebounds per game
13.6 - 5th - Off rebounds per game
86.6 - 6th - Points per game
63.5 - 6th - Points per game allowed
17.7 - 8th - Assists per game
39.5 - 8th - Opponents' Field goal percentage
50.0% - 10th - FG Pct

TOURNAMENT BY THE NUMBERS (thru 5 games):
• College of Idaho has outscored its opponents, 408-310
• College of Idaho has outrebounded its opponents, 223-160
• College of Idaho has recorded more blocked shots than its opponents, 22-8

IN THE POST-SEASON - NAIA TOURNAMENT ONLY (in 2022-23): Sophomore Jake O'Neil is averaging 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game; junior Charles Elzie is averaging 15.8 points and 2.8 rebounds; sophomore Drew Wyman is averaging 10.8 points, 2.5 assists and 5.3 rebounds a game; freshman Samaje Morgan is averaging 9.8 points and 3.0 assists a contest. Complete statistics are on page 12.

BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR SAMAJE: Freshman Samaje Morgan had a great birthday on Friday with 12 points and two assists on Friday. He has been in double figures in 17 games in 2022-23.

HANDING OUT HARDWARE: Colby Blaine became the first coach in program history to be named the Cascade Collegiate Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year on three occasions. He has led College of Idaho to 30 wins in the last five seasons with the exception of the CoVID season of 2020-21. Three players – Jake O'Neil, Johnny Radford and Drew Wyman - were named to the all-Cascade Collegiate Conference Team with Tyler Robinett being selected honorable mention. Charles Elzie became the seventh player in program history to be named the Cascade Collegiate Conference Men's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year.

ACADEMIC HONORS: Sophomore Drew Wyman became the first player in program history to pick up Academic All-American honor on Tuesday. The biomedical sciences major is just one of two sophomores along with Tate Ivanyo of Anderson University across all levels of college men's basketball to receive this prestigious honor.

IS THERE AN AREA CODE? College of Idaho has made 314 3-pointers on the 2022-23 season. The 314 3-pointers are the sixth most in program history. 10-different Yotes have hit a three pointer on the season with Johnny Radford knocking down a team-high 101 of 218 (46.9%) of his attempts. For his career, Radford has made 173 3-pointers which ranks seventh in program history. Radford is just the fourth Yote to have made 100 3-pointers in a season (others: Neal Robertson - 124; Ben Riley - 106; Kade Wilson - 105). He is the 32nd different Coyote to make over 100 3-pointers. He made a season-high and career-high six 3 pointers against Walla Walla (Jan. 28) and earlier this season against Corban (Jan. 14).