Coyotes Magical Run Ends in National Semifinals
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – An amazing run for the College of Idaho ended inside the Sanford Pentagon, as the University of Saint Francis used an 18-5 second half run to pull away for a 70-59 victory in the semifinals of the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship, presented by Cypress Risk Management.
The Coyotes (30-7), reaching the national semis for just the second time – held a 43-42 lead with 10 minutes remaining. However, Derek Hinen scored 15 of his game-high 21 points in the final 20 minutes, including nine points in the game-changing run, as USF advances to meet in-state and conference rival, Indiana Wesleyan, in tomorrow's title tilt.
The Fort Wayne, Ind., squad used a 9-2 run in the first half to break a 10-10. However, the C of I defense locked down over the final eight minutes – as eight-straight points from
Gibson Berryhill keyed a 18-6 run to close the half, as C of I led 30-25 at the break.
USF (29-8) answered early in the second half – as Chandler White scored back-to-back baskets and Hinen had a mid-range jumper and a 3-point play – part of an 11-2 run that gave the Cougars a 36-34 lead.
C of I had an answer, as consecutive triples by Berryhill and
Roosevelt Adams gave the Yotes a 40-36, with a
Nate Bruneel triple giving the Purple and Gold their final lead of the night at 43-42.
After starting the game 0-for-10 from 3-point range, an Austin Compton triple started the rally for USF and Connor Lautzenhiser and Bryce Lienhoop each added a 3-point plays. An Adams triple got the Yotes within 51-48, but Hinen answered with back-to-back buckets in the paint and Lienhoop converted on the block as the margin ballooned to 62-50.
The Cougars used a 43-32 edge on the glass and converted 52-percent of their second half field goals – outscoring the Yotes, 45-29 in the final 20 minutes. Lienhoop, a two-time All-American, had 18 points and nine rebounds, with White scoring 14.
Adams and Pinckney led C of I with 13 points, with Berryhill scoring 11 off the bench. The Yotes made 36-percent of their field goal attempts on the night.
The loss ends the college career of four seniors in Adams,
Aziz Leeks, Matthew Duniphan and
Dominic Hulsey – with the Yotes posting a 129-42 record in Hulsey's five seasons.
C of I will return home late Tuesday night – arriving on Southwest Airlines flight 582 at 12:10 a.m.