College of Idaho Men’s Basketball Named Team of the Week
LA GRANDE, Ore. –The College of Idaho men’s basketball team has been named the “Team of the Week” for March 5-11 the Cascade Collegiate Conference announced.
The No. 3 ranked team in the country has followed up their league regular season and tournament titles with three straight victories at the NAIA D II Men’s Basketball National Championships. The wins have propelled the team into the semifinals and are a game away from competing for a national title.
Using a 19-4 run over the first 11 minutes of the second half, the Coyotes rolled to a 66-50 victory over the Mayville State Comets in the first-round. The No. 1 seed in the Duer bracket were led by Nate Bruneel with 14 points.
In what looked like the end of the road for the Yotes against Dakota Wesleyan turned into a stunning victory that quieted the partisan DWU faithful. Trailing 58-51 with just under three minutes to play, CI used everything in their arsenal to grasp victory from what appeared to be defeat. Free throws and two crafty layups in the paint set the stage for a steal on an inbound pass from DWU and a dagger three-pointer by Roosevelt Adams to give CI the needed two-point margin and win 62-60. A desperation three by DWU fell short.
In the quarterfinals CI held No. 24-ranked Marian University to 27-percent shooting and 41 points below their season scoring average in a 75-47 victory. Along with the stifling defense the Yotes spotted Marian the first five points of the second half before rattling off thirty points to put the game well out of reach.
College of Idaho (30-6, 18-2 CCC) advance to their first national semifinal since the 1995-96 season – meeting No. 7-ranked Saint Francis (Ind.) on Monday night.