HELENA, Mont. - The No. 1-ranked College of Idaho men's basketball team opened its 2025-26 campaign in dominant fashion Saturday night, routing Carroll College 92-63 at the P.E. Center. The defending national champions wasted no time showing why they entered the year atop the NAIA poll, combining highlight-reel plays with a deep rotation that kept the Saints off balance from the opening tip.
The Yotes (1-0) stormed out to a 17-4 lead early and never looked back, leading by as many as 34 points in a wire-to-wire victory. Redshirt Freshman forward Chance Winter electrified the crowd with a pair of dunks and four blocks, while Freshman Tucker Tiddens delivered a breakout performance with 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting and nine rebounds off the bench.
Freshman guard Rey Johnston added 13 points, and fellow Montanans Alex Germer and Dougie Peoples impressed in front of home-state fans with Germer going a perfect 5-for-5 from the field for 14 points and Peoples tallying 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists. All 15 players saw action, including all seven freshmen, as the Yotes displayed their trademark energy and depth, proving continuity of the program's core values despite a significant roster shift.
College of Idaho shot 54 percent from the floor, out-rebounded Carroll 46-25, and scored 50 points in the paint. Carroll (1-1) was led by Isaiah Crane's 21 points and Kellen Harrison's 20, but the Saints could never cut the deficit below double digits after the opening five minutes.
The Yotes have one more game of their Montana road trip at Montana Western on Monday before they return to Caldwell next weekend for their home opener on November 7th.
