College of Idaho Tops Southern to Win CCC Title, 70-55
CALDWELL, Idaho – Matt Meyers scored 16 of his season-high 19 points in the first half, sparking a 20-6 run that helped the College of Idaho grab a lead they would not surrender, as the Coyotes won their fourth Cascade Conference Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, crown in six years, rolling past Southern Oregon, 70-55, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The No. 7 ranked Yotes (28-5) avenged a late season road loss to the Raiders – holding Southern to their lowest scoring total of the season – to claim the CCC's second automatic berth to the NAIA Division II National Championships. It marks the third-straight trip to Nationals for C of I, their fifth appearance in the last six seasons and their 22nd all-time NAIA tourney berth – with the Yotes finishing the season 16-1 at home.
Trailing 19-13 midway through the first half, C of I made an effort to work the ball into the paint. Keun Palu-Thompson hit 3-of-4 free throws drawing fouls on post moves, with Meyers converting on the block and splashing a triple to tie the score at 21-21. Jake Bruner added a 3-pointer to give the hosts a 24-23 lead, with Connor Desaulniers converting back-to-back inside buckets and Gibson Berryhill canned a trey – part of a 7-0 run that gave C of I a 33-25 edge.
SOU (21-11) cut the margin to 53-46 with nine minutes left after Aaron Borich drained a 3-pointer and added a runner in the lane, only to have the Yotes hold the Raiders to one made field goal over the next six minutes. Desaulniers converted three inside baskets and C of I made 6-of-6 free throws in the 12-2 run that sealed the victory.
Meyers finished 8-of-10 from the floor and made all three of his 3-point field goals, adding seven rebounds, while Desaulniers was 6-of-6 from the field, scoring 12 points with seven boards. Nate Bruneel added nine of his 11 points in the second half, with Talon Pinckney scoring 10 points.
C of I rebounded from a slow start offensively to make 62-percent of their second half field goals, ending the night 25-of-51 from the floor (49-percent), had a 35-29 edge on the glass and committed just eight turnovers.
Tate Hoffman scored 15 points off the bench for the Raiders, with Borich adding 11. Tristen Holmes, in his final game for SOU, had eight points, five rebounds and eight assists. Southern ended the night just 6-of-28 from 3-point range.
The Yotes will learn their opponent for the NAIA Division II National Championships tomorrow at 5 p.m. as part of the NAIA selection show.