KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The College of Idaho men's basketball team punched its ticket to the NAIA Fab Four for the fourth time under head coach Colby Blaine, using a late-game surge to put away Georgetown, 83-71, in a tense quarterfinal showdown at Municipal Auditorium.
The Yotes (33-2) found themselves locked in a battle throughout the night, with Georgetown (29-5) refusing to back down. College of Idaho jumped out to an early lead behind sharpshooting from Johnny Radford and Drew Wyman, but the Tigers answered with physical inside play, keeping the game within striking distance. At halftime, the Yotes held a slim 41-37 edge.
The second half saw the intensity rise, with the Tigers briefly cutting the deficit to a single possession behind Jabrion Spikes and Dre Boyd. However, College of Idaho's depth and defensive pressure began to take its toll. With under ten minutes remaining, the Yotes turned up the heat, forcing turnovers and converting them into quick transition points. Wyman and Samaje Morgan led the charge, with Morgan orchestrating the offense while Wyman asserted himself in the paint.
Morgan finished with a game-high 21 points, four assists, and two steals, while Wyman delivered a crucial double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Radford drained four three-pointers, adding 12 points, and Tyler Robinett chipped in eight. The Yotes' efficiency from deep (12-for-25, 48.0%) and relentless defense—holding Georgetown to just one made three-pointer in the second half—proved to be the difference.
Despite Georgetown's efforts, the Tigers couldn't keep pace in the final stretch as College of Idaho methodically pulled away. The Yotes capitalized on nine Tiger turnovers, turning them into 20 points while controlling the glass with a 37-31 rebounding advantage.
With the victory, College of Idaho moves on to Monday's Fab Four, where they will continue their pursuit of a national championship.