KIRKLAND, Wash. — The College of Idaho men's basketball team stared down a furious second-half rally and held firm Saturday night, escaping Northwest University with a 73-70 victory in a game that tested every ounce of composure.
The Yotes never trailed, building a commanding 18-point cushion at 60-42 with 14:21 remaining after a Tucker Tiddens layup capped a stretch of relentless offense. But that margin evaporated as Northwest caught fire from deep, hitting six second-half threes and riding Logan Stempniak's 33-point masterpiece to claw within three in the final minute. With the crowd roaring and momentum swinging, C of I answered when it mattered most. Utrillo Morris slashed to the rim for a layup with 1:02 left, pushing the lead back to five and sealing the win despite a late basket by the Eagles.
C of I's balanced attack was the difference early. Chance Winter dominated the paint with 16 points and six rebounds, while Morris added 12 points and five assists. Dougie Peoples chipped in eight points, including a pair of first-half threes, and Conner Sheets provided a spark off the bench with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. The Yotes shot 46.6 percent from the field and 85.7 percent at the line, while their defense forced 13 turnovers.
Northwest's comeback was fueled by Stempniak, who buried six threes and scored 19 of his 33 points after halftime. The Eagles' rally fell short when C of I's defense stiffened in the closing seconds.
The Yotes, now 8-4 overall and 3-1 in the CCC, return home for their next contest, hosting Eastern Oregon University on Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m. inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
