Let's talk about a certified dynasty in NAIA Basketball. College of Idaho just dropped a hammer on Oklahoma Wesleyan, 93-65, to snag their THIRD NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship. Their second in the past 3 years. At Municipal Auditorium, and it wasn't even close.
From the jump, the Yotes were on fire. 49-29 at the half? That's a statement. They shot a blistering 55.7% from the field, and a ridiculous 53.3% from downtown, hitting 16 threes. Oklahoma Wesleyan? They were left looking for answers, shooting a chilly 37.1% and going a dismal 3-of-15 from deep.
Samaje Morgan led the charge scoring 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting. Dougie Peoples chipped in with 21, including five threes. Johnny Radford and Tyler Robinett joined the double-digit party. And defensively? The Yotes were suffocating, forcing 16 turnovers and grabbing 11 steals. They owned the boards too, 37-35.
This win? It's their 25th straight. They basically steamrolled this tournament, outscoring opponents by a mile. 477-357. That's dominance. This program, now 3-0 in championship games, is a legit NAIA powerhouse. 27 tournament appearances, a 42-23 record? That's legacy.
And speaking of legacy, this senior class? Caden Handran, Paul Wilson, Tyler Robinett, Straton Rogers, Johnny Radford, Drew Wyman, Bryan St. Clair, and Alex Germer? They went out on top. Notably, all five starters were part of last year's title team, giving them a championship pedigree.
Samaje Morgan? Player of the Tournament. No surprise there. Him, along with Tyler Robinett, Johnny Radford, and Drew Wyman, snagged First Team All-Tournament honors.
Their road to the title? Pure dominance. Revenge over Langston, a comfortable win over Georgetown, and a demolition of Arizona Christian. And in the final? Never trailed. Led by as much as 30.
Bottom line? College of Idaho just put the rest of the NAIA on notice. They're not just good; they're elite. Another banner for the rafters. This program? It's built different.
